2. Anything light and filled with air. Specifically:
(a) A puffball.
(b) a kind of light pastry.
(c) A utensil of the toilet for dusting the skin or hair
with powder.
3. An exaggerated or empty expression of praise, especially
one in a public journal.
{Puff adder}. (Zo["o]l.)
(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, or Clotho
arietans}) is the largest species, becoming over four
feet long. The plumed puff adder ({C. 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} (Zo["o]l.), any bird of the genus {Bucco}, or
family {Bucconid[ae]}. They are small birds, usually with
dull-colored and loose plumage, and have twelve tail
feathers. See {Barbet}
(b) .
The clearing north will puff the clouds away.
--Dryden.
2. To repel with words; to blow at contemptuously.
I puff the prostitute away. --Dryden.
3. To cause to swell or dilate; to inflate; to ruffle with
puffs; -- often with up; as, a bladder puffed with air.
The sea puffed up with winds. --Shak.
4. To inflate with pride, flattery, self-esteem, or the like;
-- often with up.
Puffed up with military success. --Jowett
(Thucyd. )
5. To praise with exaggeration; to flatter; to call public
attention to by praises; to praise unduly. `` Puffed with
wonderful skill.'' --Macaulay.
2. To blow, as an expression of scorn; -- with at.
It is really to defy Heaven to puff at damnation.
--South.
3. To breathe quick and hard, or with puffs, as after violent
exertion.
The ass comes back again, puffing and blowing, from
the chase. --L' Estrange.
4. To swell with air; to be dilated or inflated. --Boyle.
5. To breathe in a swelling, inflated, or pompous manner;
hence, to assume importance.
Then came brave Glory puffing by. --Herbert.