buff

buff
I. n
1.
an enthusiast, expert or aficionado. An American term which, in forms such as film-buff, opera-buff, etc., has become established in other English-speaking countries. The word is said (by American lexicographer Robert L. Chapman among others) to be inspired by the buff-col-oured raincoats worn by 19th-century New York firemen, later applied to watch-ers of fires, hence devotees of any activ-ity.
► 'Havingyour life dragged through the popular press for scrutiny by a nation of voyeurs and trivia-buffs...' (London Australasian Weekly, 4 Septem-ber 1989)
2.
the buff the nude. From the colour of (white) skin.
II. adj
American
a.
excellent, attractive. A vogue term of appreciation or approval in use among adolescents since the early 1990s, first associated with the slacker and grunge subcultures as well as the language of college students. Boff is a variant form.
► She's buff!' (Sneakers, US film, 1993)
b.
physically fit
In both senses, the word had been adopted by UK adolescents by 2000. The superlative form is buffest

Contemporary slang . 2014.

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  • Buff — steht für: Verstärkungszauber, siehe MMORPG Jargon, ein Begriff in Mehrspieler Online Rollenspielen Shit/Cannabis, siehe Drogen Glossar Buff proof ink, ein Synonym aus der Graffiti Szene für besonders schwer zu entfernende Farbe, die meist in… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • 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 …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Buff — Buff, a. 1. Made of buff leather. Goldsmith. [1913 Webster] 2. Of the color of buff. [1913 Webster] {Buff coat}, a close, military outer garment, with short sleeves, and laced tightly over the chest, made of buffalo skin, or other thick and… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Buff — may refer to:* Buff (colour) * Buff (computer gaming), a temporary beneficial effect in some games * Buff (headgear) * Buff (superheroine), a Marvel Comics character * BUFF (Malmö Film Festival) * Buffing, the process of smoothing and polishing… …   Wikipedia

  • buff up — variant UK US Main entry: buff * * * buff up [phrasal verb] buff up or buff (someone or something) up or buff up (someone or something) informal : to become stronger and more muscular or to make (someone or something) stronger and more muscular… …   Useful english dictionary

  • buff — buff1 [buf] n. [earlier buffe, buffalo < Fr buffle < It bufalo,BUFFALO] 1. a heavy, soft, brownish yellow leather made from the skin of the buffalo or from other animal hides 2. a military coat made of this leather 3. a) a stick or small… …   English World dictionary

  • buff — Ⅰ. buff [1] ► NOUN 1) a yellowish beige colour. 2) a dull yellow leather with a velvety surface. ► VERB 1) polish. 2) give (leather) a velvety finish. ● i …   English terms dictionary

  • buff — buff·a·bil·i·ty; buff·able; buff·bar; buff; buff·y; re·buff; …   English syllables

  • Buff — Buff, n. [See {Buffet}.] A buffet; a blow; obsolete except in the phrase Blindman s buff. See {blindman s buff}. [1913 Webster] Nathless so sore a buff to him it lent That made him reel. Spenser. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • buff — 1570s, buffe leather, from M.Fr. buffle buffalo (15c., via It. from L. bufalus; see see BUFFALO (Cf. buffalo)). The color term comes from the hue of buffalo hides (later ox hides); association of hide and skin led c.1600 to in the buff, and use… …   Etymology dictionary

  • Buff — Buff, v. t. to polish with a soft cloth, especially one similar to a {buff[5]}. See {Buff}, n., 5. [1913 Webster +PJC] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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