chuff

¹

[ chuhf ]

noun

1. a rustic.
2. a boor; churl.
3. a miserly fellow.

chuff

²

[ chuhf, choof ]

adjective

, British Dialect.

1. chubby; fat.
2. swollen with pride; proud; elated.

chuff

³

[ chuhf ]

noun

1. a sound of or like the exhaust of a steam engine.

verb (used without object)

1. to emit or proceed with chuffs; puff:

   The train chuffed along.

chuff

¹

/ tʃʌf /

noun

1. a puffing sound of or as if of a steam engine

verb

1. intr to move while emitting such sounds

   the train chuffed on its way

chuff

²

/ tʃʌf /

verb

1. slang.
   tr; usually passive to please or delight

   he was chuffed by his pay rise

chuff

³

/ tʃʌf /

noun

1. dialect.
   a boor; churl; sullen fellow

Word History and Origins

Origin of chuff¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English chuffe, choffe, chutte, of obscure origin

Origin of chuff²

First recorded in 1600–10; compare earlier chuff “puffed cheek”

Origin of chuff³

First recorded in 1910–15; imitative

Word History and Origins

Origin of chuff¹

C20: of imitative origin

Origin of chuff²

probably from chuff (adj) pleased, happy (earlier: chubby), from C16 chuff (obsolete n) a fat cheek, of unknown origin

Origin of chuff³

C17: from obsolete chuff (n) fat cheek, of obscure origin

Example Sentences

The temporary twitcher had been walking his dog when he spotted the crowds and decided to join them, declaring that he would be "chuffed to bits" to see the American visitor.

From BBC

"I am so chuffed and happy," she said.

From BBC

That and the giant drone, its wingspan similar to that of an eagle, chuffing high above as it rains organic fertilizer onto the knee-high rice seedlings billowing below.

From Seattle Times

“This repertoire — with its contrapuntal extravaganzas, its antiphonal balances, its espousal of instruments that chuff and wheeze and speak directly to a microphone — was made for stereo,” he wrote.

From Los Angeles Times

Keen whale spotter Mr Stoppard said he was "quite chuffed" to have seen it.

From BBC

Related Words

• boor
• lout
• oaf