cuff

noun

/kʌf/

Idioms

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[countable] the lower end of a coat or shirt sleeve at the wrist
- a collar and cuffs of white lace
Topics Clothes and Fashionc1
cuffs
[plural] (informal) handcuffs (= a pair of metal rings joined by a chain, used for holding the wrists of a prisoner together)
(North American English)
(British English turn-up)
[countable] the bottom of the leg of a pair of trousers that has been folded over on the outside
[countable] a light hit with an open hand
- to give somebody a friendly cuff

Word Originnoun senses 1 to 3 late Middle English (denoting a glove or mitten): of unknown origin. noun sense 4 mid 16th cent.: of unknown origin.

Idioms

off the cuff

(of speaking, remarks, etc.) without previous thought or preparation
- I'm just speaking off the cuff here—I haven't seen the results yet.
- an off-the-cuff remark

verb

/kʌf/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they cuff	/kʌf/ /kʌf/
he / she / it cuffs	/kʌfs/ /kʌfs/
past simple cuffed	/kʌft/ /kʌft/
past participle cuffed	/kʌft/ /kʌft/
-ing form cuffing	/ˈkʌfɪŋ/ /ˈkʌfɪŋ/

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cuff somebody to hit somebody quickly and lightly with your hand, especially in a way that is not serious
- She cuffed him lightly around his head.
cuff somebody (informal) to put handcuffs on somebody
- Both men were cuffed and detained for several hours.
- His hands were cuffed behind his back.

Word Originverb mid 16th cent.: of unknown origin.