[ See Buff a buffet. ] A game in which one person is blindfolded, and tries to catch some one of the other players, and tell who it is. [ 1913 Webster ]

Surely he fancies I play at blindman's buff with him, for he thinks I never have my eyes open. Stillingfleet. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The color of buff; a light yellow, shading toward pink, gray, or brown. [ 1913 Webster ]

A visage rough,
Deformed, unfeatured, and a skin of buff. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A military coat, made of buff leather. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Med.) The grayish viscid substance constituting the buffy coat. See Buffy coat, under Buffy, a. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Mech.) A wheel covered with buff leather, and used in polishing cutlery, spoons, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. The bare skin; as, to strip to the buff. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

To be in buff is equivalent to being naked. Wright. [ 1913 Webster ]

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 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. to polish with a soft cloth, especially one similar to a buff{ 5 }. See Buff, n., 5. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

v. t. [ OF. bufer to cuff, buffet. See Buffet a blow. ] To strike. [ Obs. ] B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

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 ]

a. [ Of uncertain etymol. ] Firm; sturdy. [ 1913 Webster ]

And for the good old cause stood buff,
'Gainst many a bitter kick and cuff. Hudibras. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. fem. (Mus.) [ It. See Buffoon. ] The comic actress in an opera. -- a. Comic, farcical. [ 1913 Webster ]

Aria buffa, a droll or comic air. --
Opera buffa, a comic opera. See Opera bouffe. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Buffaloes [ Sp. bufalo (cf. It. bufalo, F. buffle), fr. L. bubalus, bufalus, a kind of African stag or gazelle; also, the buffalo or wild ox, fr. Gr. &unr_; buffalo, prob. fr. &unr_; ox. See Cow the animal, and cf. Buff the color, and Bubale. ] 1. (Zool.) A species of the genus Bos or Bubalus (Bubalus bubalus), originally from India, but now found in most of the warmer countries of the eastern continent. It is larger and less docile than the common ox, and is fond of marshy places and rivers. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) A very large and savage species of the same genus (Syncerus Caffer syn. Bubalus Caffer) found in South Africa; -- called also Cape buffalo. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Zool.) Any species of wild ox. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Zool.) The bison of North America. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. A buffalo robe. See Buffalo robe, below. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Zool.) The buffalo fish. See Buffalofish, below. [ 1913 Webster ]

Buffalo berry (Bot.), a shrub of the Upper Missouri (Sherherdia argentea) with acid edible red berries. --
Buffalo bird (Zool.), an African bird of the genus Buphaga, of two species. These birds perch upon buffaloes and cattle, in search of parasites. --
Buffalo bug, the carpet beetle. See under Carpet. --
Buffalo chips, dry dung of the buffalo, or bison, used for fuel. [ U.S. ] --
Buffalo clover (Bot.), a kind of clover (Trifolium reflexum and Trifoliumsoloniferum) found in the ancient grazing grounds of the American bison. --
Buffalo cod (Zool.), a large, edible, marine fish (Ophiodon elongatus) of the northern Pacific coast; -- called also blue cod, and cultus cod. --
Buffalo fly, or
Buffalo gnat (Zool.), a small dipterous insect of the genus Simulium, allied to the black fly of the North. It is often extremely abundant in the lower part of the Mississippi valley and does great injury to domestic animals, often killing large numbers of cattle and horses. In Europe the Columbatz fly is a species with similar habits. --
Buffalo grass (Bot.), a species of short, sweet grass (Buchloë dactyloides), from two to four inches high, covering the prairies on which the buffaloes, or bisons, feed. [ U.S. ] --
Buffalo nut (Bot.), the oily and drupelike fruit of an American shrub (Pyrularia oleifera); also, the shrub itself; oilnut. --
Buffalo robe, the skin of the bison of North America, prepared with the hair on; -- much used as a lap robe in sleighs. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) 1. any of several large carplike North American fish. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. (Zool.) Any of several large fresh-water fishes of the family Catostomidæ (also called suckers see Sucker family), of the Mississippi valley. The red-mouthed or brown (Ictiobus bubalus), the big-mouthed buffalofish (Ictiobus cyrinellus, formerly called Bubalichthys urus), the black buffalofish (Ictiobus niger), and the small-mouthed buffalofish (Ictiobus bubalus, formerly called Bubalichthys altus), are among the more important species used as food. [ PJC ]

A United States five-cent coin minted from 1913 to 1937 having an image of an American bison (“buffalo”) on its reverse, and an American Indian on the obverse. [ PJC ]

A black soldier of the United States army who served in the American west in the late 1800's, often as an indian fighter, and usually as part of an all-black troop; -- the name was given by the indians due to their their kinky hair, and the name was believed also to be a compliment on their courage. [ PJC ]

[ See Buffalo. ] (Zool.) A small duck (Charitonetta albeola); the spirit duck, or butterball. The head of the male is covered with numerous elongated feathers, and thus appears large. Called also bufflehead. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Prop a striker. See Buffet a blow. ] 1. (Mech.) (a) An elastic apparatus or fender, for deadening the jar caused by the collision of bodies; as, a buffer at the end of a railroad car. (b) A pad or cushion forming the end of a fender, which receives the blow; -- sometimes called buffing apparatus. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One who polishes with a buff. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A wheel for buffing; a buff. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A good-humored, slow-witted fellow; -- usually said of an elderly man. [ Colloq. ] Dickens. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Chem.) a substance or mixture of substances which can absorb or neutralize a certain quantity of acid or base and thus keep the degree of acidity or alkalinity of a solution (as measured by pH) relatively stable. Sometimes the term is used in a medical context to mean antacid. [ PJC ]

6. (Computers) a data storage device or portion of memory used to temporarily store input or output data until the receiving device is ready to process it. [ PJC ]

7. any object or person that shields another object or person from harm, shock, or annoyance; as, the President's staff is his buffer from constant interruptions of his work. [ PJC ]

v. t. (Chem.) to add a buffer{ 5 } to (a solution), so as to reduce unwanted fluctuation of acidity. [ PJC ]

a. (Chem.) containing a buffer{ 5 }; -- of solutions, usually aqueous solutions. [ PJC ]

n. The head of a buffer, which recieves the concussion, in railroad carriages. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ trademark. ] a brand of aspirin tablets coated with a substance capable of neutralizing acid (a “buffer”); -- sometimes applied generically to any buffered aspirin preparation.
Syn. -- buffered aspirin. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ F. buffet, LL. bufetum; of uncertain origin; perh. fr. the same source as E. buffet a blow, the root meaning to puff, hence (cf. puffed up) the idea of ostentation or display. ] 1. A cupboard or set of shelves, either movable or fixed at one side of a room, for the display of plate, china, etc., a sideboard. [ 1913 Webster ]

Not when a gilt buffet's reflected pride
Turns you from sound philosophy aside. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A counter for food or refreshments. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Hence: A restaurant containing such a counter, as at a railroad station, or place of public gathering. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A meal set out on a buffet[ 2 ], arranged so that guests may serve themselves and choose those items that they desire; as, a buffet dinner. Diners usually take a plate provided and move in a line past the items on the buffet[ 2 ], placing those items they desire on the plate, to be eaten at some convenient place. [ PJC ]

n. [ OE. buffet, boffet, OF. buffet a slap in the face, a pair of bellows, fr. buffe blow, cf. F. bouffer to blow, puff; prob. akin to E. puff. For the meaning slap, blow, cf. F. soufflet a slap, souffler to blow. See Puff, v. i., and cf. Buffet sidebroad, Buffoon ] 1. A blow with the hand; a slap on the face; a cuff. [ 1913 Webster ]

When on his cheek a buffet fell. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A blow from any source, or that which affects like a blow, as the violence of winds or waves; a stroke; an adverse action; an affliction; a trial; adversity. [ 1913 Webster ]

Those planks of tough and hardy oak that used for yeas to brave the buffets of the Bay of Biscay. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

Fortune's buffets and rewards. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A small stool; a stool for a buffet or counter. [ 1913 Webster ]

Go fetch us a light buffet. Townely Myst. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Buffeted; p. pr. & vb. n. Buffeting. ] [ OE. buffeten, OF. buffeter. See the preceding noun. ] 1. To strike with the hand or fist; to box; to beat; to cuff; to slap. [ 1913 Webster ]

They spit in his face and buffeted him. Matt. xxvi. 67. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To affect as with blows; to strike repeatedly; to strive with or contend against; as, to buffet the billows. [ 1913 Webster ]

The sudden hurricane in thunder roars,
Buffets the bark, and whirls it from the shores. Broome. [ 1913 Webster ]

You are lucky fellows who can live in a dreamland of your own, instead of being buffeted about the world. W. Black. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. [ Cf. Buffer. ] To deaden the sound of (bells) by muffling the clapper. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To exercise or play at boxing; to strike; to smite; to strive; to contend. [ 1913 Webster ]

If I might buffet for my love, or bound my horse for her favors, I could lay on like a butcher. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To make one's way by blows or struggling. [ 1913 Webster ]

Strove to buffet to land in vain. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. struck repeatedly; -- used especially of impact from winds, and sometimes metaphorically; as, buffeted by criticism. [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

n. One who buffets; a boxer. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A striking with the hand. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A succession of blows; continued violence, as of winds or waves; afflictions; adversity. [ 1913 Webster ]

He seems to have been a plant of slow growth, but . . . fitted to endure the buffeting on the rudest storm. Wirt. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ So called from resembling buff &unr_;eather. ] A sort of coarse stuff; as, buffin gowns. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

See Buffer, 1. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE., from F. buffle. See Buffalo. ] The buffalo. [ Obs. ] Sir T. Herbert. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To puzzle; to be at a loss. [ Obs. ] Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Buffle + head. ] 1. One who has a large head; a heavy, stupid fellow. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

What makes you stare so, bufflehead? Plautus (trans. 1694). [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) The buffel duck. See Buffel duck. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having a large head, like a buffalo; dull; stupid; blundering. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

So fell this buffle-headed giant. Gayton. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. masc. [ It. See Buffoon. ] (Mus.) The comic actor in an opera. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To treat with buffoonery. Glanvill. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. bouffon (cf. It. buffone, buffo, buffa, puff of wind, vanity, nonsense, trick), fr. bouffer to puff out, because the buffoons puffed out their cheeks for the amusement of the spectators. See Buffet a blow. ] A man who makes a practice of amusing others by low tricks, antic gestures, etc.; a droll; a mimic; a harlequin; a clown; a merry-andrew. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Characteristic of, or like, a buffoon. “Buffoon stories.” Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

To divert the audience with buffoon postures and antic dances. Melmoth. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To act the part of a buffoon. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Buffooneries [ F. bouffonnerie. ] The arts and practices of a buffoon, as low jests, ridiculous pranks, vulgar tricks and postures. [ 1913 Webster ]

Nor that it will ever constitute a wit to conclude a tart piece of buffoonery with a “What makes you blush?” Spectator. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Like a buffoon; consisting in low jests or gestures. Blair. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The practices of a buffoon; buffoonery. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Low; vulgar. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Apish tricks and buffoonly discourse. Goodman. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Med.) Resembling, or characterized by, buff. [ 1913 Webster ]

Buffy coat, the coagulated plasma of blood when the red corpuscles have so settled out that the coagulum appears nearly colorless. This is common in diseased conditions where the corpuscles run together more rapidly and in denser masses than usual. Huxley. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To strike or drive back or in an opposite direction; to stop by a blow or impulse in front. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A blow in an opposite direction; a stroke that stops motion or cause a recoil. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ It. ribuffo, akin to ribuffare to repulse; pref. ri- (L. re-) + buffo puff. Cf. Buff to strike, Buffet a blow. ] 1. Repercussion, or beating back; a quick and sudden resistance. [ 1913 Webster ]

The strong rebuff of some tumultuous cloud. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Sudden check; unexpected repulse; defeat; refusal; repellence; rejection of solicitation. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Rebuffed p. pr. & vb. n. Rebuffing. ] To beat back; to offer sudden resistance to; to check; to repel or repulse violently, harshly, or uncourteously. [ 1913 Webster ]

(Zool.) The European buffalo. [ 1913 Webster ]