Puff bird

Puff bird
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|bird — «PUHF pa>EHRD», noun. any one of a group of usually plain colored, tropical American birds, so called from their habit of puffing out their feathers …   Useful english dictionary

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  • 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… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Puff adder — 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 …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Puff-backed Honeyeater — Conservation status Least Concern (IUCN 3.1) Scientific classification …   Wikipedia

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  • Curry puff — Bite of Curry Puff. Curry puff (Malay: Epok Epok, Karipap; Chinese: 咖哩角; Thai: กะหรี่ปั๊บ, RTGS: karipap, IPA: [karìːpáp]) is a Malaysian, Singaporean, and T …   Wikipedia

  • blowing adder — 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 …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Clotho arietans — 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 …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Clotho cornuta — 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 …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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