buff Definition

buff¹
noun

1. colloq
A person who is enthusiastic about and knows a lot about a specified subject
Example: an opera buff
Example: a sports buff.
Thesaurus: fan, addict, admirer, aficionado, freak (slang), connoisseur, devotee, enthusiast, expert.

Etymology: Early 20c, originally US; keen attenders at fires came to be nicknamed buffs because of the buff overcoats (see buff² adj 2) formerly worn by New York volunteer firemen.

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buff²
noun

1. A dull-yellowish colour.
2. A soft undyed leather.
3a. A cloth or pad of buff (noun 2) or other material, used for polishing;

Form: buffer (sometimes)
3b. A revolving disk used for polishing metals, made of layers of cloth loaded with abrasive powder.

Form: buffer (sometimes)

adj

1. Dull yellow in colour.

Example: a buff envelope
Thesaurus: tan, fawn, khaki, sandy, straw, tan, fulvous.
2. Made of buff (noun 2).

Example: a military buff coat

verb buffed, buffing

1. To polish it with a buff or a piece of soft material.

Thesaurus: polish, shine, burnish, rub, smooth, brush.
Form: buff something up (also)
2. To make (leather) soft like buff.

Derivative: buffer
noun

A person or thing that buffs or polishes.

Idiom: in the buff

(rit)
colloq
Naked.
Thesaurus: nude, naked, bare; Antonym: clothed.

Etymology: 16c, meaning ‘a buffalo'; later meaning ‘buffalo-hide' (or military wear made of this): from French buffle buffalo.