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Buff vs Bluff - What's the difference?

buff | bluff |

In lang=en terms the difference between buff and bluff

is that buff is attractive while bluff is ( To make a bluff; to give the impression that one's hand is stronger than it is.

As nouns the difference between buff and bluff

is that buff is undyed leather from the skin of buffalo or similar animals while bluff is an act of bluffing; a false expression of the strength of one's position in order to intimidate; braggadocio.

As adjectives the difference between buff and bluff

is that buff is of the color of buff leather, a brownish yellow while bluff is having a broad, flattened front.

As verbs the difference between buff and bluff

is that buff is to polish and make shiny by rubbing while bluff is ( To make a bluff; to give the impression that one's hand is stronger than it is.

As an acronym BUFF

is big Ugly Fat Fellow (or Fucker); US Airforce nickname for the B-52 bomber.

As a proper noun Bluff is

the southernmost town in the South Island of New Zealand, and seaport for the Southland region.

buff

English

Etymology 1

From .

Noun

(en noun)
  • Undyed leather from the skin of buffalo or similar animals.
  • * Shakespeare
  • a suit of buff
  • A tool, often one covered with buff leather, used for polishing.
  • A brownish yellow colour.
  • * Dryden
  • a visage rough, deformed, unfeatured, and a skin of buff
  • A military coat made of buff leather.
  • (Shakespeare)
  • (informal) A person who is very interested in a particular subject; an enthusiast.
  • He’s a history buff .
  • (gaming) An effect that temporally makes a gaming character stronger.
  • (rail transport) Compressive coupler force that occurs during a slack bunched condition.
  • The bare skin.
  • to strip to the buff
  • * Wright
  • To be in buff is equivalent to being naked.
  • The greyish viscid substance constituting the buffy coat.
  • A substance used to dilute (street) drugs in order to increase profits.
  • * Police said the 20 ton hydraulic jack was used to press mixtures of cocaine and "buff" into bricks. (CBC)
  • Derived terms
    * in the buff
    Antonyms
    * (video games) debuff * (video games) nerf

    Adjective

    (en-adj)
  • Of the color of buff leather, a brownish yellow.
  • (bodybuilding): Unusually muscular. (also buffed'' or ''buffed out )
  • The bouncer was a big, buff dude with tattoos, a shaved head, and a serious scowl.
  • * 1994 , Blurred Boundaries: Questions of Meaning in Contemporary Culture , page 155:
  • The appearance of logic often derives from faulty syllogisms such as Sgt. Koon's conclusion that King was an ex-con because he was "buffed out " (heavily muscled). The thinking is: "ex-cons are often buffed out; this man is buffed out; therefore, this man is an ex-con."
  • (slang) attractive.
  • Derived terms
    * buff-tip moth * buffly

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To polish and make shiny by rubbing.
  • (gaming) To make a character stronger.
  • The enchanter buffed the paladin to prepare him to fight the dragon.
    Derived terms
    * buff out * buff up * buff wheel

    Synonyms

    * (to make smooth and shiny by rubbing) wax, shine, polish, furbish, burnish
    Antonyms
    * (video games) debuff * (video games) nerf

    See also

    *

    Etymology 2

    (etyl) .

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To strike.
  • (Ben Jonson)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (obsolete) A buffet; a blow.
  • * Spenser
  • Nathless so sore a buff to him it lent / That made him reel.
    Derived terms
    * blind man's buff

    bluff

    English

    (wikipedia bluff)

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An act of bluffing; a false expression of the strength of one's position in order to intimidate; braggadocio.
  • That is only bluff''', or a '''bluff .
  • (poker) An attempt to represent oneself as holding a stronger hand than they actually do.
  • John's bet was a bluff : he bet without even so much as a pair.
  • (US, dated) The card game poker.
  • (Bartlett)

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • ((poker) To make a bluff ; to give the impression that one's hand is stronger than it is.
  • John bluffed by betting without even a pair.
  • (by analogy ) To frighten or deter with a false show of strength or confidence; to give a false impression of strength or temerity in order to intimidate and gain some advantage.
  • The government claims it will call an election if this bill does not pass. Is it truly ready to do so, or is it bluffing ?

    Derived terms

    * bluffer * double bluff * triple bluff * quadruple bluff * semi-bluff

    Etymology 2

    Related to blaff, "smooth".

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A high, steep bank, as by a river or the sea, or beside a ravine or plain; a cliff with a broad face.
  • (senseid) (Canadian Prairies) A small wood or stand of trees, typically poplar or willow.
  • Adjective

    (er)
  • Having a broad, flattened front.
  • the bluff bows of a ship
  • Rising steeply with a flat or rounded front.
  • * Falconer
  • a bluff or bold shore
  • * Judd
  • Its banks, if not really steep, had a bluff and precipitous aspect.
  • Surly; churlish; gruff; rough.
  • * 1883:
  • he had a bluff , rough-and-ready face, all roughened and reddened and lined in his long travels.
  • Abrupt; roughly frank; unceremonious; blunt; brusque.
  • a bluff''' answer; a '''bluff''' manner of talking; a '''bluff sea captain
  • * I. Taylor
  • There is indeed a bluff pertinacity which is a proper defence in a moment of surprise.

    References

    *