puff

Meanings

Noun

• A sharp exhalation of a small amount of breath through the mouth.
• The ability to breathe easily while exerting oneself.
• A small quantity of gas or smoke in the air.
• A sudden but small gust of wind, smoke, etc.
• An act of inhaling smoke from a cigarette, cigar or pipe.
• The drug cannabis.
• A flamboyant or alluring statement of praise.
• A portion of fabric gathered up so as to be left full in the middle.
• A light cake filled with cream, cream cheese, etc.
• A puffball.
• A powder puff.
• A puffer, one who is employed by the owner or seller of goods sold at auction to bid up the price; an act or scam of that type.
• A region of a chromosome exhibiting a local increase in diameter.
• Life.
• Synonym of poof: a male homosexual, especially an effeminate one.

Verb

• To emit smoke, gas, etc., in puffs.
• To pant.
• To advertise.
• To blow as an expression of scorn.
• To swell with air; to be dilated or inflated.
• To breathe in a swelling, inflated, or pompous manner; hence, to assume importance.
• To drive with a puff, or with puffs.
• To repel with words; to blow at contemptuously.
• To cause to swell or dilate; to inflate.
• To inflate with pride, flattery, self-esteem, etc.; often with up.
• To praise with exaggeration; to flatter; to call public attention to by praises; to praise unduly.

Origin

• From Middle English puff, puf, from Old English pyf, imitative. Cognate with Middle Low German puf, pof.
• From Middle English puffen, from Old English pyffan. Compare Dutch puffen, German Low German puffen, German puffen, Danish puffe, Swedish puffa.