puff



From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:


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.
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   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.
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   3. An exaggerated or empty expression of praise, especially
      one in a public journal.
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   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
      Bucconid[ae]. They are small birds, usually with
      dull-colored and loose plumage, and have twelve tail
      feathers. See Barbet
      (b) .
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:


Puff \Puff\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Puffed (p[u^]ft); 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, n.]
   1. To blow in puffs, or with short and sudden whiffs.
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   2. To blow, as an expression of scorn; -- with at.
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            It is really to defy Heaven to puff at damnation.
                                                  --South.
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   3. To breathe quick and hard, or with puffs, as after violent
      exertion.
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            The ass comes back again, puffing and blowing, from
            the chase.                            --L' Estrange.
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   4. To swell with air; to be dilated or inflated. --Boyle.
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   5. To breathe in a swelling, inflated, or pompous manner;
      hence, to assume importance.
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            Then came brave Glory puffing by.     --Herbert.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:


Puff \Puff\, v. t.
   1. To drive with a puff, or with puffs.
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            The clearing north will puff the clouds away.
                                                  --Dryden.
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   2. To repel with words; to blow at contemptuously.
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            I puff the prostitute away.           --Dryden.
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   3. To cause to swell or dilate; to inflate; to ruffle with
      puffs; -- often with up; as, a bladder puffed with air.
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            The sea puffed up with winds.         --Shak.
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   4. To inflate with pride, flattery, self-esteem, or the like;
      -- often with up.
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            Puffed up with military success.      --Jowett
                                                  (Thucyd. )
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   5. To praise with exaggeration; to flatter; to call public
      attention to by praises; to praise unduly. " Puffed with
      wonderful skill." --Macaulay.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:


Puff \Puff\, a.
   Puffed up; vain. [R.] --Fanshawe.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:


Puffball \Puff"ball`\, n. (Bot.)
   A kind of ball-shaped fungus (Lycoperdon giganteum, and
   other species of the same genus) full of dustlike spores when
   ripe; -- called also bullfist, bullfice, puckfist,
   puff, and puffin.
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