Etymology 15th century, dialectal, from Middle English chuffe (“a rustic, boor”), in noun sense “stupid fellow”. Adjective sense “surly, displeased” from 1832.
He refused to subscribe, he who had always given so largely to the cause; he was chuff, haughty, overbearing, and seemed bent upon antagonising every prominent suggestion that was made.1872, Edward Spencer, “A Slight Toothache”, in The Southern Magazine, volume 11, page 86:
So I set out in the clear cold night, and began to think that great lords and ladies are not at all as well off as poor people thinks, with so much fine meat and drink wasted about them, and they having no wish for them; for I felt very chuff and uncomfortable, and was glad that I could not be in the same way again for six weeks and more to come.1875, Patrick Kennedy ·, The Banks of the Boro: A Chronicle of the County of Wexford, page 106:
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"I am afraid of Lady Frances. And Miss Audrey can be very rude. She was very chuff with me on New Year's Day.” “She won't be chuff with you in my presence,” said Evelyn.2020, L.T Meade, A Very Naughty Girl, page 39:
Well, I didn't mean with my eyes, Neb; so don't be so chuff on a fellow.2020, George Manville Fenn, Sail Ho!, page 242:
such chuff Fellows , who would not willingly allow their Children any Pleasures1728, Francis Gentleman, A Trip to the Moon, page 196:
Says Paddy , “the old one, faith, looks very chuff, though, But loves that big blackguard, I mean Lundy snuff, though;1831, The Spouter's Album:
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The chuff old Joe to vex has come, The Doctor—who but he?—Parnell, and all the Irish scum, Have noisy vowed to be.1878 January 24, “The Song of Big Ben”, in Truth, volume 3, page 114:
Neville Custance is a very chuff Boy indeed as I ever saw, seem displeased & cross with every thing - would not eat a bit of Cake when brought to him.1978, James Woodforde, edited by John Beresford, The Diary of a Country Parson, 1758-1802, page 387:
Etymology 15th century, dialectal, from Middle English chuffe (“a rustic, boor”), in noun sense “stupid fellow”. Adjective sense “surly, displeased” from 1832.
1
In a chuff manner.
Macbeth when he talk'd very chuff About fighting -- how soon he got floor'd With a yard of cold steel by Macduff, And mine was that Wonderful Sword.1842, John Labern, J. Labern's Original Comic Songs, (for 1842,), page 18:
I was therefore obliged, sore against my will, to apply again to Carnot, who spoke very chuff about the trouble I gave him to write a second memorandum.1893, Theobald Wolfe Tone, Richard Barry O'Brien, The Autobiography of Theobald Wolfe Tone. 1763-1798;, page 30:
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'I know I spoke chuff, aye, but – she wouldn't listen. She'll never agree ...'2016, Andrew Prentice, Jonathan Weil, Devil's Blood:
chuff
noun
Etymology 15th century, dialectal, from Middle English chuffe (“a rustic, boor”), in noun sense “stupid fellow”. Adjective sense “surly, displeased” from 1832.
1
A coarse or stupid fellow.
Hang ye, gorbellied knaves, are ye undone? / No, ye fat chuffs, I would your store were here!a. 1597, William Shakespeare, Henry IV, Part 1, act 2, scene 2:
chuff
verb
Etymology Onomatopoeic. Compare chug and puff.
1
To make noisy puffing sounds, as of a steam locomotive.
The horses stumbled along, coughing and chuffing.1912, Katherine Mansfield, “The Woman At The Store”, in Selected Short Stories:
[…] and the small lit up train that chuffed past in the cutting made it seem like real night.1928, D[avid] H[erbert] Lawrence, Lady Chatterley’s Lover, [Germany?]: Privately printed, →OCLC:
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They walk together in silence while behind them a freight train chuffs and screaks through the crossing.1960, John Updike, 'Rabbit, Run', page 64:
The pigeons chuff and chortle off in indignant disappointment.1990, John Updike, 'Rabbit at Rest':
Far less straightforward was what happened at about 0130 on Friday June 2 1944, as a long goods train was chuffing and clanking its unhurried way across the darkened landscape towards Soham, from Ely.2022 January 12, Benedict le Vay, “The heroes of Soham...”, in RAIL, number 948, page 42:
Of a powder, propellant, or explosive charge: to become extinguished and reignited intermittently.
1967 Leo Allen Lukenas: The ignition transient in small solid propellant rocket motors. Princeton University Double base propellants often require ignition pressures of as much as 400 psia to avoid the problem of chuffing or hangfires.
The original work of Huffington on chuffing and oscillatory burning of cordite goes back to the beginning of the 1950s.1992, Luigi De Luca, Martin Summerfield, Nonsteady Burning and Combustion Stability of Solid Propellants, →ISBN:
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Chuffing followed by full recovery to normal functioning (Figure 3)1999, William G. Reinecke, Ballistics 18th International Symposium, →ISBN, page 357:
The pressure at which chuffing occurs depends on the powder composition and on the temperature of the charge. The lowering of the initial charge temperature facilitates chuffing.2014, V. I. Feodosiev, G. B. Siniarev, Introduction to Rocket Technology, →ISBN, page 145:
chuff
noun
Etymology Onomatopoeic. Compare chug and puff.
1
Communications, Journalism, Literature, Media, Publishing, Scriptwriting, Writing Superfluous small talk that is free of conflict, offers no character development, description or insight, and does not advance the story or plot.
2
A noisy puffing sound.
Then the brass bell on top of the boiler rings out and a single massive chuff! of steam issues from the bowels of the loco. Then another chuff! – a blast of steam – another chuff! and the huge drive shafts tighten against the wheels.2010, Don Gayton, Okanagan Odyssey: Journeys Through Terrain, Terroir and Culture, page 82:
3
A breathy noise produced by a tiger, similar in function to a cat's purr.
chuff
adj
Etymology 1520s, in sense “swollen with fat”; circa 1860, British dialect, in sense “pleased”. Possibly related to “coarse, stupid, fat-headed” sense (see etymology 1 above). Or, perhaps a euphemistic alteration of fuck or another expletive.
Etymology 1520s, in sense “swollen with fat”; circa 1860, British dialect, in sense “pleased”. Possibly related to “coarse, stupid, fat-headed” sense (see etymology 1 above). Or, perhaps a euphemistic alteration of fuck or another expletive.
1
UK, Euphemistic Used as a replacement for obscenities, particularly fuck.
Oh chuff off! I'm so chuffing fed up with all of the spam posts on my timeline.
chuff
noun
Etymology 1520s, in sense “swollen with fat”; circa 1860, British dialect, in sense “pleased”. Possibly related to “coarse, stupid, fat-headed” sense (see etymology 1 above). Or, perhaps a euphemistic alteration of fuck or another expletive.