buff1

 
Pronunciation: /bʌf/

noun

[mass noun]
  • 1a yellowish-beige colour: [as modifier]: a buff envelope
  • 2a stout dull yellow leather with a velvety surface.
  • 3 [count noun] a stick, wheel, or pad used for polishing.

verb

[with object]
  • polish (something): he buffed the glass until it gleamed
  • give (leather) a velvety finish by removing the surface of the grain.

adjective

North American informal
  • (of a person or their body) in good physical shape with well-developed muscles: the driver was a buff blond named March

Phrases

in the buff

informal naked: people generally don’t go swimming in the buff in public places

Origin:

mid 16th century: probably from French buffle, from Italian bufalo, from late Latin bufalus (see buffalo). The original sense in English was 'buffalo', later 'oxhide' or 'colour of oxhide'