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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. An exaggerated or empty expression of praise, especially one in a public journal. [ 1913 Webster ]

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 Bucconidæ. They are small birds, usually with dull-colored and loose plumage, and have twelve tail feathers. See Barbet (b). [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Puffed 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To blow, as an expression of scorn; -- with at. [ 1913 Webster ]

It is really to defy Heaven to puff at damnation. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To breathe quick and hard, or with puffs, as after violent exertion. [ 1913 Webster ]

The ass comes back again, puffing and blowing, from the chase. L' Estrange. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To swell with air; to be dilated or inflated. Boyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To breathe in a swelling, inflated, or pompous manner; hence, to assume importance. [ 1913 Webster ]

Then came brave Glory puffing by. Herbert. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. 1. To drive with a puff, or with puffs. [ 1913 Webster ]

The clearing north will puff the clouds away. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To repel with words; to blow at contemptuously. [ 1913 Webster ]

I puff the prostitute away. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To cause to swell or dilate; to inflate; to ruffle with puffs; -- often with up; as, a bladder puffed with air. [ 1913 Webster ]

The sea puffed up with winds. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To inflate with pride, flattery, self-esteem, or the like; -- often with up. [ 1913 Webster ]

Puffed up with military success. Jowett (Thucyd. ) [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To praise with exaggeration; to flatter; to call public attention to by praises; to praise unduly. “ Puffed with wonderful skill.” Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Puffed up; vain. [ R. ] Fanshawe. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One who puffs; one who praises with noisy or extravagant commendation. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One who is employed by the owner or seller of goods sold at suction to bid up the price; a by-bidder. Bouvier. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Zool.) (a) Any plectognath fish which inflates its body, as the species of Tetrodon and Diodon of the family Tetraodontidae; -- called also blower, puff-fish, swellfish, and globefish. They are highly poisonous due to the presence of glands containing a potent toxin, tetrodotoxin. Nevertheless they are eaten as a delicacy in Japan, being prepared by specially licensed chefs who remove the poison glands. (b) The common, or harbor, porpoise. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Dyeing) A kier. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act of puffing; bestowment of extravagant commendation. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Akin to puff. ] 1. (Zool.) An arctic sea bird Fratercula arctica) allied to the auks, and having a short, thick, swollen beak, whence the name; -- called also bottle nose, cockandy, coulterneb, marrot, mormon, pope, and sea parrot. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The name is also applied to other related species, as the horned puffin (Fratercula corniculata), the tufted puffin (Lunda cirrhata), and the razorbill. [ 1913 Webster ]

Manx puffin, the Manx shearwater. See under Manx. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Bot.) The puffball. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A sort of apple. [ Obs. ] Rider's Dict. (1640). [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality or state of being puffy. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. & n. from Puff, v. i. & t. [ 1913 Webster ]

Puffing adder. (Zool.) Same as Puff adder (b), under Puff. --
Puffing pig (Zool.), the common porpoise. [ 1913 Webster ]