Puff

Puff
Puff Puff, n. [Akin to G. & Sw. puff a blow, Dan. puf, D. pof; of imitative origin. Cf. {Buffet}.] 1. A sudden and single emission of breath from the mouth; hence, any sudden or short blast of wind; a slight gust; a whiff. `` To every puff of wind a slave.'' --Flatman. [1913 Webster]

2. Anything light and filled with air. Specifically: (a) A puffball. (b) kind of light pastry. (c) A utensil of the toilet for dusting the skin or hair with powder. [1913 Webster]

3. An exaggerated or empty expression of praise, especially one in a public journal. [1913 Webster]

{Puff adder}. (Zo["o]l.) (a) Any South African viper belonging to {Clotho} and allied genera. They are exceedingly venomous, and have the power of greatly distending their bodies when irritated. The common puff adder ({Vipera arietans}, or {Clotho arietans}) is the largest species, becoming over four feet long. The plumed puff adder ({Clotho cornuta}) has a plumelike appendage over each eye. (b) A North American harmless snake ({Heterodon platyrrhinos}) which has the power of puffing up its body. Called also {hog-nose snake}, {flathead}, {spreading adder}, and {blowing adder}.

{Puff bird} (Zo["o]l.), any bird of the genus {Bucco}, or family {Bucconid[ae]}. They are small birds, usually with dull-colored and loose plumage, and have twelve tail feathers. See {Barbet} (b) . [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Puff — Puff, the Magic Dragon Saltar a navegación, búsqueda «Puff, the Magic Dragon» Sencillo de Peter, Paul and Mary del álbum Moving Publicación 1963 Grabado 1963 …   Wikipedia Español

  • Puff — may refer to:In foods with high air content: *Puffed grain *Puff pastry *Cocoa Puffs *Cream puff, profiteroleIn low density objects: *Powder puff, face powder applicator *Puffs, a brand of facial tissueIn animals: *Puffer, fish in family… …   Wikipedia

  • Puff — (ugs. für:) »Stoß, dumpfes Geräusch«: Das seit mhd. Zeit bezeugte Wort (mhd. buf) ist – wie auch niederl. bof, pof »Stoß, Puff« und engl. puff »Stoß, Puff; Windhauch« – lautnachahmenden Ursprungs, vgl. die Interjektion puff!, älter nhd. auch… …   Das Herkunftswörterbuch

  • puff — ● puff nom masculin (anglais puff, d origine onomatopéique) Toute modification de structure observée sur les chromosomes polytènes et témoignant de la synthèse d A.R.N. messager. (Les puffs correspondent à des bandes uniques dans lesquelles l A.D …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Puff — bezeichnet: eine Onomatopöie mit mehreren Anwendungsformen, zum Beispiel (meist dumpfe) Schläge umgangssprachlich ein Bordell ein mittelalterliches Würfelbrettspiel namens Wurfzabel bzw. Trictrac, oder dessen moderne Variante Backgammon. Der Name …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • puff — [pʌf] also ˈpuff piece noun [countable] informal MARKETING an advertisement or other piece of writing in a newspaper etc that strongly praises a product * * * Ⅰ. puff UK US /pʌf/ noun [C] also US …   Financial and business terms

  • Puff — Puff, ein unabänderliches Wörtchen, welches den dumpfigen Laut nachahmet, welchen manche Körper, besonders im Stoßen und Fallen verursachen, und welcher gröber und dumpfiger ist, als diejenigen, welche man durch Piff und Paff ausdruckt. Siehe… …   Grammatisch-kritisches Wörterbuch der Hochdeutschen Mundart

  • puff — puff; puff·er; puff·ery; puff·i·ly; puff·i·ness; puff·ing·ly; …   English syllables

  • Puff — Puff, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Puffed} (p[u^]ft); p. pr. & vb. n. {Puffing}.] [Akin to G. puffen to pop, buffet, puff, D. poffen to pop, puffen to blow, Sw. puffa to push, to cuff, Dan. puffe to pop, thump. See {Puff}, n.] 1. To blow in puffs, or… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Puff — Puff, v. t. 1. To drive with a puff, or with puffs. [1913 Webster] The clearing north will puff the clouds away. Dryden. [1913 Webster] 2. To repel with words; to blow at contemptuously. [1913 Webster] I puff the prostitute away. Dryden. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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