Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Buff?

\Buff\ (b[u^]f), n. [OE. buff, buffe, buff, buffalo, F. buffle buffalo. See {Buffalo}.] 1. A sort of leather, prepared from the skin of the buffalo, dressed with oil, like chamois; also, the skins of oxen, elks, and other animals, dressed in like manner. ``A suit of buff.'' --Shak. 2. The color of buff; a light yellow, shading toward pink, gray, or brown. A visage rough, Deformed, unfeatured, and a skin of buff. --Dryden. 3. A military coat, made of buff leather. --Shak. 4. (Med.) The grayish viscid substance constituting the buffy coat. See {Buffy coat}, under {Buffy}, a. 5. (Mech.) A wheel covered with buff leather, and used in polishing cutlery, spoons, etc. 6. The bare skin; as, to strip to the buff. [Colloq.] To be in buff is equivalent to being naked. --Wright.
\Buff\, a. 1. Made of buff leather. --Goldsmith. 2. Of the color of buff. {Buff coat}, a close, military outer garment, with short sleeves, and laced tightly over the chest, made of buffalo skin, or other thick and elastic material, worn by soldiers in the 17th century as a defensive covering. {Buff jerkin}, originally, a leather waistcoat; afterward, one of cloth of a buff color. [Obs.] --Nares. {Buff stick} (Mech.), a strip of wood covered with buff leather, used in polishing.
\Buff\, v. t. To polish with a buff. See {Buff}, n., 5.
\Buff\, v. t. [OF. bufer to cuff, buffet. See {Buffet} a blow.] To strike. [Obs.] --B. Jonson.
\Buff\, n. [See {Buffet}.] A buffet; a blow; -- obsolete except in the phrase ``Blindman's buff.'' Nathless so sore a buff to him it lent That made him reel. --Spenser.
\Buff\, a. [Of uncertain etymol.] Firm; sturdy. And for the good old cause stood buff, 'Gainst many a bitter kick and cuff. --Hudibras.