Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Puff
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.
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. 3.
An exaggerated or empty expression of praise, especially one in a public journal.
Puff adder
. (Zool.)
(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
(Zool.)
, any bird of the genus
Bucco
, or family Bucconidæ
. They are small birds, usually with dull-colored and loose plumage, and have twelve tail feathers. See Barbet
(b)
.Puff
,Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Puffed
(pŭft)
; 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
, Noun.
1.
To blow in puffs, or with short and sudden whiffs.
2.
To blow, as an expression of scorn; – with at.
It is really to defy Heaven to
puff
at damnation. South.
3.
To breathe quick and hard, or with puffs, as after violent exertion.
The ass comes back again,
puffing
and blowing, from the chase. L’ Estrange.
4.
To swell with air; to be dilated or inflated.
Boyle.
5.
To breathe in a swelling, inflated, or pompous manner; hence, to assume importance.
Then came brave Glory
puffing
by. Herbert.
Puff
,Verb.
T.
1.
To drive with a puff, or with puffs.
The clearing north will
puff
the clouds away. Dryden.
2.
To repel with words; to blow at contemptuously.
I
puff
the prostitute away. Dryden.
3.
To cause to swell or dilate; to inflate; to ruffle with puffs; – often with
up
; as, a bladder
. puffed
with airThe sea
puffed
up with winds. Shakespeare
4.
To inflate with pride, flattery, self-esteem, or the like; – often with
up
. Puffed
up with military success. Jowett (Thucyd. )
5.
To praise with exaggeration; to flatter; to call public attention to by praises; to praise unduly.
“ Puffed with wonderful skill.” Macaulay.
Puff
,Adj.
Puffed up; vain.
[R.]
Fanshawe.
Webster 1828 Edition
Puff
PUFF
, n.1.
A sudden and single emission of breath from the mouth; a quick forcible blast; a whiff.2.
A sudden and short blast of wind.3.
A fungous ball filled with dust.4.
Any thing light and porous, or something swelled and light; as puff-paste.5.
A substance of loose texture, used to sprinkle powder on the hair.6.
A tumid or exaggerated statement or commendation.PUFF
, v.i.1.
To drive air from the mouth in a single and quick blast.2.
To swell the cheeks with air.3.
To blow as an expression of scorn or contempt. It is really to defy heaven, to puff at damnation.
4.
To breathe with vehemence, as after violent exertion. The ass comes back again, puffing and blowing from the chase.
5.
To do or move with hurry, agitation and a tumid, bustling appearance. Then came brave glory puffing by.
6.
To swell with air; to dilate or inflate.PUFF
,Verb.
T.
1.
To swell; to inflate; to dilate with air; as a bladder puffed with air. The sea puffed up with winds.
2.
To swell; to inflate; to blow up; as puffed up with pride, vanity or conceit; to puff up with praise or flattery.3.
To drive with a blast in scorn or contempt. I puff the prostitute away.
4.
To praise with exaggeration; as to puff a pamphlet.