buffˈer noun

A person or thing that buffs or polishes. See also buffer¹

buffˈing noun

The act or process of polishing

buffˈ-coat or buffˈ-jerkin noun

1. A strong, military coat
2. A soldier

buffˈ-leather noun

buffˈ-stick, buffˈ-wheel or buffˈing-wheel noun

A stick or wheel covered with buff-leather or the like, and impregnated with an abrasive for polishing

buffˈ-tip moth noun

A European moth with buff wing tips

in the buff (informal)

Naked

buffer¹ /bufˈər/

1. A mechanical apparatus for deadening the force of a concussion, as in railway carriages or at the end of a railway line
2. A ship's fender
3. Something or someone that acts as a protection against impact, shock or damage
4. A fellow, esp a dull or ineffectual fellow (as in old buffer)
5. A boatswain's mate (nautical)
6. A substance or mixture which opposes change of hydrogen-ion concentration in a solution (chem)
7. A temporary store into which data can go while awaiting transfer eg from computer to printer, acting as an adjusting mechanism between processes of different speeds (computing)

1. To protect against shock (lit and figurative)
2. To store (data) in a buffer (computing)
3. To add a buffer to (chem)

To use, or be used as, a buffer

buffˈered adjective

buffer state or buffer zone noun

A neutral country or zone lying between two others whose relations are or may become strained

buffer stock noun

Stock held in reserve to minimize the effect of price fluctuations or unreliable deliveries