Word: puff Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Middle English puff, puf, from Old English pyf (“a blast of wind, puff”), from Proto-West Germanic *puf(f)- (“to blow, puff”), of imitative origin. Cognate with Dutch puf (“puff, wind, fart”), Middle Low German puf, pof (“puff”). Pronunciation: /pʌf/, /pɐf/, /pʊf/ 1. A sharp exhalation of a small amount of breath through the mouth. Labels: countable 2. The ability to breathe easily while exerting oneself. Labels: slang, uncountable Example: out of puff 3. A small quantity of gas or smoke in the air. Labels: countable Example: puff of smoke 4. A sudden but small gust of wind, smoke, etc. Labels: countable Example: to every puff of wind a slave Example: "The wind we had was only an early puff! You'll see we shall have our full allowance!" 5. An act of inhaling smoke from a cigarette, cigar or pipe. Labels: countable, informal Example: When I went to bed that night I found that I could not get to sleep. At five o'clock I got up and took a hot bath. I climbed back into bed and lighted one of the Chinese-made "Great Wall" cigars my hosts had thoughtfully provided, and sat puffing on the cigar and making notes about the events of the momentous week. 6. The drug cannabis. Labels: slang, uncountable 7. A flamboyant or alluring statement of praise. Labels: countable Example: […] though I care not one straw for the personal puffs of which I myself am so often the subject […] Example: […] we critics were not his fellow-guests, but simply deadheads whose business it was to "dress the house" and write puffs. 8. A portion of fabric gathered up so as to be left full in the middle. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: a sleeve with a puff at the shoulder 9. A light cake filled with cream, cream cheese, etc. Labels: countable Example: cream puff 10. A puffball. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: Bozzacchio, an acorne. Also a puffe or mushrump full of dust. 11. A powder puff. Labels: countable, uncountable 12. 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. Labels: countable, dated, slang, uncountable Example: Is nothing to be said in praise of the "Emporiums" and "Repositories" and "Divans," which formerly were mere insignificant tailors', toymen's, and tobacconists' shops? Is the transition from the barber's pole to the revolving bust of the perruquier, nothing? — the leap from the bare counter-traversed shop to the carpeted and mirrored saloon of trade, nothing? Are they not, one and all, practical puffs, intended to invest commerce with elegance, and to throw a halo round extravagance? Example: Here the duke is made the vehicle of the tailor's advertisement, and the prelusive compliments, ostensibly meant for his grace, merge into a covert recommendation of the coat. Several specimens might be given of this species of puff, which is to be met with in almost every paper, and is a favourite form with booksellers, professional men, &c. 13. A region of a chromosome exhibiting a local increase in diameter. Labels: countable, uncountable 14. Life. Labels: UK, countable, dated, slang, uncountable Example: Isn't this the chance of a lifetime? Have either of you ever made a couple of quids at once in your puff before—pinching goods from the back of delivery vans and smooching lead off empty houses? Example: Did you ever in your puff see such a perfect perisher? 15. Synonym of poof: a gay man; especially one who is effeminate. Labels: Northern-England, countable, derogatory, slang, uncountable