Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Stuff?

\Stuff\, n. [OF. estoffe, F. ['e]toffe; of uncertain origin, perhaps of Teutonic origin and akin to E. stop, v.t. Cf. {Stuff}, v. t.] 1. Material which is to be worked up in any process of manufacture. For the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it, and too much. --Ex. xxxvi. 7. Ambitions should be made of sterner stuff. --Shak. The workman on his stuff his skill doth show, And yet the stuff gives not the man his skill. --Sir J. Davies. 2. The fundamental material of which anything is made up; elemental part; essence. Yet do I hold it very stuff o' the conscience To do no contrived murder. --Shak. 3. Woven material not made into garments; fabric of any kind; specifically, any one of various fabrics of wool or worsted; sometimes, worsted fiber. What stuff wilt have a kirtle of? --Shak. It [the arras] was of stuff and silk mixed, though, superior kinds were of silk exclusively. --F. G. Lee. 4. Furniture; goods; domestic vessels or utensils. He took away locks, and gave away the king's stuff. --Hayward. 5. A medicine or mixture; a potion. --Shak. 6. Refuse or worthless matter; hence, also, foolish or irrational language; nonsense; trash. Anger would indite Such woeful stuff as I or Shadwell write. --Dryden. 7. (Naut.) A melted mass of turpentine, tallow, etc., with which the masts, sides, and bottom of a ship are smeared for lubrication. --Ham. Nav. Encyc. 8. Paper stock ground ready for use. Note: When partly ground, called half stuff. --Knight. {Clear stuff}. See under {Clear}. {Small stuff} (Naut.), all kinds of small cordage. --Ham. Nav. Encyc. {Stuff gown}, the distinctive garb of a junior barrister; hence, a junior barrister himself. See {Silk gown}, under {Silk}.
\Stuff\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Stuffed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Stuffing}.] [OE. stoffen; cf. OF. estoffer, F. ['e]toffer, to put stuff in, to stuff, to line, also, OF. estouffer to stifle, F. ['e]touffer; both perhaps of Teutonic origin, and akin to E. stop. Cf. {Stop}, v. t., {Stuff}, n.] 1. To fill by crowding something into; to cram with something; to load to excess; as, to stuff a bedtick. Sometimes this crook drew hazel bought adown, And stuffed her apron wide with nuts so brown. --Gay. Lest the gods, for sin, Should with a swelling dropsy stuff thy skin. --Dryden. 2. To thrust or crowd; to press; to pack. Put roses into a glass with a narrow mouth, stuffing them close together . . . and they retain smell and color. --Bacon. 3. To fill by being pressed or packed into. With inward arms the dire machine they load, And iron bowels stuff the dark abode. --Dryden. 4. (Cookery) To fill with a seasoning composition of bread, meat, condiments, etc.; as, to stuff a turkey. 5. To obstruct, as any of the organs; to affect with some obstruction in the organs of sense or respiration. I'm stuffed, cousin; I can not smell. --Shak. 6. To fill the skin of, for the purpose of preserving as a specimen; -- said of birds or other animals. 7. To form or fashion by packing with the necessary material. An Eastern king put a judge to death for an iniquitous sentence, and ordered his hide to be stuffed into a cushion, and placed upon the tribunal. --Swift. 8. To crowd with facts; to cram the mind of; sometimes, to crowd or fill with false or idle tales or fancies. 9. To put fraudulent votes into (a ballot box). [U. S.]
\Stuff\, v. i. To feed gluttonously; to cram. Taught harmless man to cram and stuff. --Swift.