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Chuff vs Huff - What's the difference?

chuff | huff |

In obsolete terms the difference between chuff and huff

is that chuff is swollen with fat while huff is a boaster; one swelled with a false sense of value or importance.

As nouns the difference between chuff and huff

is that chuff is a coarse or stupid fellow while huff is a heavy breath; a grunt or sigh.

As verbs the difference between chuff and huff

is that chuff is to purposefully fail a standardized test in a conspicuous way while huff is to breathe heavily.

As an adjective chuff

is surly.

As a proper noun Huff is

{{surname}.

chuff

English

Etymology 1

15th century, dialectical, in noun sense “stupid fellow”. Adjective sense “surly, displeased” from 1832.

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • (British) Surly.
  • (UK, dialect) stupid; churlish
    • (Wright)
    Synonyms
    * (surly) chuffy * (swollen) chuffy

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A coarse or stupid fellow.
    • (Shakespeare)

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (slang) To purposefully fail a standardized test in a conspicuous way.

    • Etymology 2

    Onomatopoeic. English onomatopoeias Compare chug and puff.

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To make noisy puffing sounds, as of a steam locomotive.
  • * 1912 , Katherine Mansfield, "The Woman At The Store", Selected Short Stories
    • The horses stumbled along, coughing and chuffing .
  • * 1928 , D. H. Lawrence, Lady Chatterley's Lover
    • ... and the small lit up train that chuffed past in the cutting made it seem like real night.
  • * 1990 , John Updike, Rabbit at Rest
    • The pigeons chuff and chortle off in indignant disappointment.
  • (British, informal) To break wind.

    • Noun

    (-)
  • (scriptwriting, uncountable) Superfluous small talk that is free of conflict, offers no character development, description or insight, and does not advance the story or plot.

    • Etymology 3

    1520s, in sense “swollen with fat”; circa 1860, British dialect, in sense “pleased”. Possibly related to “coarse, stupid, fat-headed” sense.

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (British) Pleased.
  • (obsolete) Swollen with fat.
  • Swollen.
    • Derived terms
    * (pleased) chuffed

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The vagina.

    • References

    * “ chuff]” at [http://septicscompanion.com The Septic’s Companion: A British Slang Dictionary

    huff

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A heavy breath; a grunt or sigh.
    • With a huff , he lifted the box onto the back of the truck.
  • An expression of anger, annoyance, disgust, etc.
    • Freyja left in a huff .
  • (obsolete) A boaster; one swelled with a false sense of value or importance.
    • Lewd, shallow-brained huffs make atheism and contempt of religion the sole badge of wit. — South.

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To breathe heavily.
    • The run left him huffing and puffing.
  • To inhale psychoactive inhalants.
  • To say in a huffy manner.
  • (draughts) To remove an opponent's piece as a forfeit for deliberately not taking a piece (often signalled by blowing on it).
  • To enlarge; to swell up.
    • Bread huffs .
  • To bluster or swell with anger, pride, or arrogance; to storm; to take offense.
  • * South
    • This senseless arrogant conceit of theirs made them huff at the doctrine of repentance.
  • To treat with insolence and arrogance; to chide or rebuke rudely; to hector; to bully.
  • * Echard
    • You must not presume to huff us.
    ----