bʌf adj., n., & v. --adj. of a yellowish
beige colour (buff envelope). --n. 1 a yellowish beige colour. 2 colloq. an
enthusiast,
esp.
for a
particular hobby (railway buff). 3 colloq.
the human skin unclothed. 4 a a velvety dull-yellow ox-leather. b (attrib.) (of a
garment etc.)
made of
this (buff gloves). 5 (the Buffs) the former
East Kent Regiment (from the colour of
its uniform facings). --v.tr. 1
polish (metal, fingernails, etc.). 2
make (leather) velvety like buff, by removing the
surface. øbuff-stick a stick covered
with buff
and used for polishing. in the buff colloq.
naked. [orig.
sense 'buffalo', prob. f. F buffle; sense 2 of n. orig. f. buff uniforms
formerly worn by
New York volunteer firemen,
applied to
enthusiastic fire-watchers]