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Webster 1913 Edition

Bluff

Bluff

,
Adj.
[Cf. OD.
blaf
flat, broad,
blaffaert
one with a broad face, also, a boaster; or G.
verblüffen
to confuse, LG.
bluffen
to frighten; to unknown origin.]
1.
Having a broad, flattened front;
as, the
bluff
bows of a ship
.
“Bluff visages.”
Irving.
2.
Rising steeply with a flat or rounded front.
“A bluff or bold shore.”
Falconer.
Its banks, if not really steep, had a
bluff
and precipitous aspect.
Judd.
3.
Surly; churlish; gruff; rough.
4.
Abrupt; roughly frank; unceremonious; blunt; brusque;
as, a
bluff
answer; a
bluff
manner of talking; a
bluff
sea captain
.
“Bluff King Hal.”
Sir W. Scott.
There is indeed a
bluff
pertinacity which is a proper defense in a moment of surprise.
I. Taylor.

Bluff

,
Noun.
1.
A high, steep bank, as by a river or the sea, or beside a ravine or plain; a cliff with a broad face.
Beach,
bluff
, and wave, adieu.
Whittier.
2.
An act of bluffing; an expression of self-confidence for the purpose of intimidation; braggadocio;
as, that is only
bluff
, or a
bluff
.
3.
A game at cards; poker.
[U.S.]
Bartlett.

Bluff

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Bluffed
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Bluffing
.]
1.
(Poker)
To deter (an opponent) from taking the risk of betting on his hand of cards, as the bluffer does by betting heavily on his own hand although it may be of less value.
[U. S.]
2.
To frighten or deter from accomplishing a purpose by making a show of confidence in one’s strength or resources;
as, he
bluffed
me off
.
[Colloq.]

Bluff

,
Verb.
I.
To act as in the game of bluff.

Webster 1828 Edition

Bluff

BLUFF

,
Adj.
[Eng.leap, from shooting forward.]surly; blustering.

BLUFF

,
Noun.
A high bank, almost perpendicular, projecting into the sea; a high bank presenting a steep front.

Definition 2024

Bluff

Bluff

See also: bluff

English

Proper noun

Bluff

  1. The southernmost town in the South Island of New Zealand, and seaport for the Southland region.

German

Etymology

From English bluff

Noun

Bluff m ‎(genitive Bluffs, plural Bluffs)

  1. bluff

Declension

bluff

bluff

See also: Bluff

English

Noun

bluff ‎(plural bluffs)

  1. An act of bluffing; a false expression of the strength of one's position in order to intimidate; braggadocio.
    That is only bluff, or a bluff.
  2. (poker) An attempt to represent oneself as holding a stronger hand than they actually do.
    John's bet was a bluff: he bet without even so much as a pair.
  3. (US, dated) The card game poker.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Bartlett to this entry?)
Translations

Verb

bluff ‎(third-person singular simple present bluffs, present participle bluffing, simple past and past participle bluffed)

  1. (poker) To make a bluff; to give the impression that one's hand is stronger than it is.
    John bluffed by betting without even a pair.
  2. (by analogy) To frighten or deter with a false show of strength or confidence; to give a false impression of strength or temerity in order to intimidate and gain some advantage.
    The government claims it will call an election if this bill does not pass. Is it truly ready to do so, or is it bluffing?
Translations

Derived terms

Etymology 2

Related to Middle Low German blaff, "smooth".

Noun

bluff ‎(plural bluffs)

  1. A high, steep bank, for example by a river or the sea, or beside a ravine or plain; a cliff with a broad face.
  2. (Canadian Prairies) A small wood or stand of trees, typically poplar or willow.
Translations

Adjective

bluff ‎(comparative bluffer, superlative bluffest)

  1. Having a broad, flattened front.
    the bluff bows of a ship
  2. Rising steeply with a flat or rounded front.
    • Falconer
      a bluff or bold shore
    • Judd
      Its banks, if not really steep, had a bluff and precipitous aspect.
  3. Surly; churlish; gruff; rough.
  4. Abrupt; roughly frank; unceremonious; blunt; brusque.
    a bluff answer; a bluff manner of talking; a bluff sea captain
    • I. Taylor
      There is indeed a bluff pertinacity which is a proper defence in a moment of surprise.
Translations

References

  • “bluff” in the Canadian Oxford Dictionary, Second Edition, Oxford University Press, 2004.

External links

Danish

Alternative forms

Etymology

Borrowing from English bluff.

Noun

bluff n

  1. bluff

Related terms

French

Etymology

Borrowing from English bluff.

Noun

bluff m ‎(plural bluffs)

  1. (chiefly card games) bluff

Swedish

Etymology

Borrowing from English bluff.

Noun

bluff c

  1. a bluff

Declension

Inflection of bluff 
Singular Plural
Indefinite Definite Indefinite Definite
Nominative bluff bluffen bluffar bluffarna
Genitive bluffs bluffens bluffars bluffarnas

Related terms

Etymology

From the Dutch verb bluffen ‎(“to brag”), from Middle Dutch bluffen ‎(“to make something swell; to bluff”); or from the Dutch noun bluf ‎(“bragging”).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /blʌf/
  • Rhymes: -ʌf

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