Etymology Probably from Dutch mof (“muff, mitten”).
1
A piece of fur or cloth, usually open at both ends, used to keep the hands warm.
Selwyn, sitting up rumpled and cross-legged on the floor, after having boloed Drina to everybody's exquisite satisfaction, looked around at the sudden rustle of skirts to catch a glimpse of a vanishing figure—a glimmer of ruddy hair and the white curve of a youthful face, half-buried in a muff.1907 August, Robert W[illiam] Chambers, chapter I, in The Younger Set, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC:
2
Slang, Vulgar The vulva or vagina; pubic hair around it.
Etymology Unknown; perhaps a specialised use of Etymology 1, above; or perhaps related to Dutch muffen (“to dote”) and German muffen (“to sulk”).
1
Hobbies, Lifestyle, Sports To drop or mishandle (the ball, a catch etc.); to play badly.
2
To mishandle; to bungle.
But then, supposing this was the real sign? … They had muffed three already; they daren’t muff the fourth.1953, C. S. Lewis, The Silver Chair:
Here was the superlative opportunity to make a generous and lasting settlement from a position of strength; but the pieds noirs, like the Israelis, and from not altogether dissimilar motives, were to muff it.1977, Alistair Horne, A Savage War of Peace, New York: Review Books, published 2006, page 69:
Etymology Unknown; perhaps a specialised use of Etymology 1, above; or perhaps related to Dutch muffen (“to dote”) and German muffen (“to sulk”).
1
Colloquial A fool, a stupid or poor-spirited person.
Can you fancy that such an old creature (an old muff, as you call him, you wicked, satirical man!) could ever make en impression on my heart?1860, William Makepeace Thackeray, Lovel the Widower:
[…]being good is so much like being a muff, generally.1901, E. Nesbit, The Wouldbegoods:
2
Hobbies, Lifestyle, SportsSlang An error, a mistake; a failure to hold a ball when once in the hands.
“They’re^([sic]) ARE thinking how sexy you look, Muff”. She heard it as plain as day. She turned, half expecting to see her Jim grinning at her. […] “Oh James!” Marsha smiled, […]1996 October 13, JD, “Restless Pt. 2”, in alt.sex.stories (Usenet), archived from the original on 13 Apr 2026:
Darien started lovin' her. "Oh yes, please more Muffin." Serena licked her lips. […] "OH YOUR^([sic]) MY MINX." "AND YOUR MY MUFF."2000 April 2, Minaka Dee Delight, “Here's a Hentai Fanfiction”, in alt.hentai.sailor-moon (Usenet), archived from the original on 13 Apr 2026:
1 more example
“Hello?” / “Hey, muff.” / “Ew.” She laughs and the sound shoots straight between my legs. “I didn’t think you could make muffin worse, but you did it. Congratulations.”2017 October 23, JB Salsbury, “Braeden”, in The Final Fight (Fighting; 8), published 2023, →ISBN: