Noun

(countable) A sharp exhalation of a small amount of breath through the mouth.

(uncountable) The ability to breathe easily while exerting oneself.

out of puff

(countable) A small quantity of gas or smoke in the air.

puff of smoke

* Flatman

to every puff of wind a slave

(informal, countable) An act of inhaling smoke from a cigarette, cigar or pipe.

(countable) A flamboyant or alluring statement about an object's quality.

(dated, slang) A puffer, one who is employed by the owner or seller of goods sold at auction to bid up the price; an act or scam of that type.

* 1842 , "A Paper on Puffing", in Ainsworth's Magazine

Is nothing to be said in praise of the "Emporiums" and "Repositories" and "Divans," which formerly were mere insignificant tailors', toymen's, and tobacconists' shops? Is the transition from the barber's pole to the revolving bust of the perruquier, nothing? — the leap from the bare counter-traversed shop to the carpeted and mirrored saloon of trade, nothing? Are they not, one and all, practical puffs , intended to invest commerce with elegance, and to throw a halo round extravagance?

* 1848 , Mrs. White, "Puffs and Puffing", in Sharpe's London Magazine

Here the duke is made the vehicle of the tailor's advertisement, and the prelusive compliments, ostensibly meant for his grace, merge into a covert recommendation of the coat. Several specimens might be given of this species of puff , which is to be met with in almost every paper, and is a favourite form with booksellers, professional men, &c.

* 2008 , David Paton-Williamspage, Katterfelto , page xii

He was the eighteenth century king of spin, or, in the language of the day, the "prince of puff ".

A puffball.

A powder puff.

(uncountable, slang) The drug cannabis.

(countable) A light cake filled with cream, cream cheese, etc.

cream puff

(derogatory, slang, British, particularly northern UK) a homosexual; a poof

(slang, dated, UK) life

* 1938 , P. G. Wodehouse (Bertie Wooster speaking of Spode) in The Code of the Woosters

Did you ever in your puff see such a perfect perisher?

Noun

(flurries)

A brief snowfall.

A sudden and brief blast or gust; a light, temporary breeze.

a flurry of wind

A shower of dust, leaves etc. brought on by a sudden gust of wind.

Any sudden activity; a stir.

* {{quote-book, year=1963, author=(Margery Allingham), title=(The China Governess)

, chapter=10 citation , passage=With a little manœuvring they contrived to meet on the doorstep which was […] in a boiling stream of passers-by, hurrying business people speeding past in a flurry of fumes and dust in the bright haze.}}

* 1998 , Gillian Catriona Ramchand, Deconstructing the Lexicon , in Miriam Butt and Wilhelm Geuder, eds. “The Projection of Arguments”

These [argument structure] modifications are important because they have provoked a flurry of investigation into argument structure operations of merger, demotion etc.

* {{quote-news, year=2011, date=January 8, author=Chris Bevan, title=Arsenal 1 - 1 Leeds

, work=BBC citation , passage=The Championship highflyers almost got their reward for a resilient performance on their first visit to the Emirates, surviving a flurry of first-half Arsenal chances before hitting back with a classic sucker punch.}}

A snack consisting of soft ice cream with small pieces of fruit, cookie, etc.

* 1988 , K. Wayne Wride, Fruit Treats'' (in ''Vegetarian Times number 134, October 1988, page 27)

Does your "Forbidden Foods" list include banana splits, ice cream sundaes, slurpies, popsicles, frozen yogurts, milk shakes, and ice cream flurries ? These foods taste great but have a reputation for being bad for your health.

* 2002 , Tampa Bay Magazine (volume 17, number 3, May-June 2002, page 235)

They will make your tongue smile with their homemade ice cream, which was voted "Best Taste in the USA Today." Enjoy exciting toppings to personalize your treat or a yummy sundae, flurry , smoothie, banana split or shake...

The violent spasms of a dying whale.