Buff /(bŭf)/

Buff

n.
  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.
  2. The color of buff; a light yellow, shading toward pink, gray, or brown.
    A visage rough, Deformed, unfeatured, and a skin of buff.
  3. A military coat, made of buff leather.
  4. The grayish viscid substance constituting the buffy coat. See Buffy coat, under Buffy, a. (Med.)
  5. A wheel covered with buff leather, and used in polishing cutlery, spoons, etc. (Mech.)
  6. The bare skin; as, to strip to the buff. [Colloq.]
    To be in buff is equivalent to being naked.
    — Wright.

Buff

a.
  1. Made of buff leather.
  2. Of the color of buff.

Phrases & Compounds

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.
Buff stick
a strip of wood covered with buff leather, used in polishing.

Buff

v. t.
  1. to polish with a soft cloth, especially one similar to a buff{5}. See Buff, n., 5.

Buff

v. t.
  1. To strike. [Obs.]

Buff

n.
  1. A buffet; a blow; -- obsolete except in the phrase “Blindman's buff.” See blindman's buff.
    Nathless so sore a buff to him it lent That made him reel.

Buff

a.
  1. Firm; sturdy.
    And for the good old cause stood buff, 'Gainst many a bitter kick and cuff.