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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

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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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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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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Puff \Puff\, a.
Puffed up; vain. [R.] --Fanshawe.
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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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