buff 
army : so called from the color of the facings of 
their uniform. The 7>th rcuimciit is called tl 
Hlliiv f!"!/.-! t'ur tile same reaMiil. 
6. Ill null., llie ImlTy coal. See buffy. 7. A 
buff-Htirk; ii bnff-wheel. 8. The linn- skin: 
as, to stri|> to thu buff. [Colloq.] -in buff, naked. 
Iron bun, a color prodnoM ii< dyeing with ferric oxid, 
li.\ tlrst i!ii|in--n;iIiiiL: l!n- i nl I. .11 with a ten-oils suit Holu- 
Itnii ami then |ia-~iim il thi'oti'Ji an alkaline solution t<> 
precipitate ferrous hyontC ; Ihr latter is clialr-lcd ti' tci I i' 
hydrute by Himplu cMmMirc In the air. 
II. <(. 1. Made of buff-leather. 
liiil not I take you up frum thence, In an old greasy 
I'nif doiiMel, with points, and -n-m velvet sleeves, out 
at the elbows'.' B. Jtnixiin, Kpieo-nc, Hi. 1. 
2. Of the color of buff-leather ; brownish-yel- 
low. Buff Cochin, n variety of the Cochin fowl of 
which tin! h cock iinil ban art- of u uniform l>utT color. 
buff 1 (huf), r. t. [< bitty 1 , IL, 7.] To polish with 
a buff-wheel or buff-stick. 
buff- (buf), r. /. [< ME. biiffcn, boffen, stam- 
mer, < OF. buffer, bufer, later and mod. F. 
bouffcr (uml bouffir), puff, blow, =Pr. 8p. Pg. 
Inijar = It. buffare, formerly also boffare, dial. 
bofftir (ML. liii fare), puff, blow, puff out the 
cheeks; a widely spread word, in part imita- 
tive, appearing in E. in the lit. sense in the 
form puff, q. v. Cf. buff*, buffet 1 , biiffoon, etc.] 
1. To stammer. [Now only prov. Eng.] 
Reualde nas he no^t of ton^e. ae (hut) of speche hastyf, 
lliiil'ini'i. A- mcst iniiiatl waiinc he were in wraththe (jr in 
Htryf. Hubert of Gloucfttfr, 1. 414. 
2. To emit a dull sound. [Prov. Eng. and 
Scotch.] 
buff- (buf), . [< bufff, t-. Cf. buffard, buffer*.] 
1. A dull fellow; a drone. 2. Nonsense; triv- 
ial or idle talk : as, that is all ltfl'. 
[Colloq. or slang.] 
buff't (buf), n. [Early mod. E. buffe (found in 
ME. only in the deriv. form buffet 1 , q. v.) = 
MHG. buf, buff, bu/,i>uf, G.puff = MLG. buff 
= ODan. buff = Sw. dial, buff, < OF. buffe, 
bufe, a slap, box, blow, buffet, prop, a slap on 
the cheek (cf. bouffe), = Olt. buffa, the cheeks 
puffed out, a puff with the mouth, also strife, 
contention, mod. It. a trick, jest, = Sp. bufa, 
also befa, a jest, jeer, ML. bitffa, the cheeks 
puffed out (cf. It. buffo, dial, boff, a puff of 
wind, a comic actor, = Sp. hufo, a comic actor: 
see buffoon) ; cf. ML. buffare, OF. buffer, bufer, 
etc., puff: see buff"*.~\ A blow, a slap; a box; 
a stroke ; a buffet. 
Nathelesse so sore a bujT to him it lent, 
That made him reele, ami to his brest his Ix-ver bent. 
Sprinter, F. Q., II. v. 6. 
To stand buff, to endure Mows without flinching ; con- 
front without fear. [Another signification has been su- 
nested for the phrase, viz., to stand stripped to the bit/or 
skin, like boxers.] 
And for the good old cause sttml bu/ 
'Gainst many a bitter kiek and cuff. 
S. Butler, Hudibras. 
buff 3 (buf), v. t. [Early mod. E. buffe (found in 
ME. only in the deriv. form buffet 1 , q. v.) = 
MLG. LG. buffen = G. puffen = ODan. buffe = 
Sw. dial, bitffa, < OF. huffier, buffoyer, slap, 
strike, maltreat, < buffe, bufe, a slap, box, blow, 
buffet : see buff*, n.] If. To strike ; buffet. 
There was a shock 
To have bu/ed out the blood 
Frum aught but a block. 
IS. .liiiixiin. Love's Welcome at Welbeck. 
2. To resist ; deaden, as a buffer. 
buff 4 (buf), H. [Early mod. E. also buffe, buffie, 
< It. buffa, "the buffie or breathing-holes of a 
head-piece or helmet" (Florio); a particular 
use of buffn, the cheeks puffed out: see buff?.] 
In old armor, the chin-piece of the burgonet, 
corresponding to the aveutaile, and pierced 
with holes to allow breathing. The burgonet being 
a light helmet without fuee-nuard, the butf was added to 
it when further defense as neeiled. 
buff r > (buf), M. [E. dial. vnr. of botifllil ; cf. duff, 
var. of (loitiih, barf, var. of baryh.] A bough. 
llalliit;-ll. '[Prov.' Eng.] 
buffalo (buf'a-lo), M. ; pi. buffaloes or -los (-16/.). 
[In early mod. K. usually liiilTi', buffie (see fcwrf'i, 
liHftlel) = D. buffet = M'LG.' buffi'/ - .Mill;. inif- 
/;/. (i. /)'(/;/ = Sw. buffel = ODan. buffel, biiffel, 
Dan. biiffel (< F. biifftc); in the form buffalo, < 
Sp. luifiilit = Pg. bitfiiln. liiil'nro = It. bufiiln. 
bufolo, biibdln, formerly buffalo, = Pr. bulxili. 
briifol, briife = F. bujfle = Wall, birol = lliini:. 
bir/il, liinl Alb. bual. lull = ]iu- 
bullo = Little Russ. bairnl. buii-ol, builo = Pol. 
bujirnl. binrol (baiTed /) = Bohem. burol = Serv. 
biro = OBulg. hiiirolu, Bulg. bivol, < ML. biifnln.-: 
bitffiiln.i, bu fl u.i (NL. biibiilux, also as specific 
name Wtfftmi), < L. bubalux, the wild ox, ear- 
lier and more properly an African antelope (= 
Ntir. )'oi .iii/n,', .;< iiiX/, a buffalo), < Gr. ,*.<- 
709 
>o., also ftoi'/ia/^c, an African species of ante- 
lo|n-, prrliaps the hartbeest ; |>rob. (simulating 
Gr. ftuvf, an ox) from a native African namr. | 
1. A ruminant mammal of the family lioinln . 
the best-known species of which is the Kubalux 
Iniffi-liiH or /lux biibiilun, laivr than (he ox and 
Common Buffalo t &Ht>a/ns 
with stouter limbs, originally from India, but 
now found in most of the wanner countries of 
the eastern hemisphere, it u less docile than the 
common ox, and is fond of nuirsliy placet* and rivers. It 
is, however, used in tillage, draft, and carriage in India 
and elsewhere. Tile female gives much more milk than 
the cow, and from the milk the ghee or clarified butter of 
India is made. The Cape Imlfalo, /iutmlu* or * eager, 
Cape Buffalo (Batatas cajfftr). 
is distinguished by the shape of its horns, which are black 
and united at their bases, forming a great t>ony plate on 
the front of the head. It attains the size of an ox. The 
hide is exceedingly tough, and a valuable leather ls pre- 
pared from it, but the flesh is not highly esteemed. 
2. A name given to various wild oxen, or 
Borina;, and particularly to the bison of North 
America, Bison americanus. See bison. 3. A 
buffalo-robe. 4. A buffalo-fish. 5. A leather 
hamper used for carrying bobbins. 6. ]>l. 
[cap.] In V. S. hist., a name given by their op- 
ponents to those members of the Locofoco or 
Equal Rights party who in 1836 accepted the 
overtures of the regular Democratic organiza- 
tion (Tammany) toward a coalition. 7. pi. A 
nickname given to the dwellers on the coast of 
North Carolina. 
buffalo-berry (buf' a-16-ber'i), . 1. The fruit 
of the Shepnerdia argentea, a shrub or small 
tree which grows in western North America. 
2. The tree itself. 
buffalo-bird (buf' a-16-berd), . A bird of the 
genus Mumopastor : so called because it asso- 
ciates with buffaloes. 
I never tired of watching the friendly relation l>etween 
the Itu/iilti-liinl* (Sturnopastor ialla and S. melanopterus) 
and their liovlne hosts. 
//. O. t'orbrl. Eastern Archipelago, p. 5ft. 
buffalo-bug (buf 'a-16-bug), n. A name of the 
carpet-beetle. 
buffalo-chips (buf'a-16-chips), H. ;*/. The dry 
dung of the bison, formerly used for fuel on the 
western plains of North America. 
buffalo-cod (buf'a-16-kod), n. A chiroid fish, 
Ophiodon clonaatus ; the cultus-cod. 
buffalo-fish (buf 'a-16-fish), . The popular 
name of fishes of the family Catostomime, or 
suckers, and genus letiobus or liubalicltthyx. 
They are among the largest of the suckers, somewhat re- 
semble carp, and abound in the lakes and rivers of the 
t'nited States. The name was probably given on account 
of the protuberant or hump-like back, which rises In- h< t 
near the front of the dorsal fin. Several species are recog- 
nized. See Ictiobintx. 
buffalo-gnat (buf 'a-16-nat), H. A kind of black- 
Hy, a dipterous insect of the genus fUniulinin 
and family fiimuliida;. It is found in almost incroli 
hie numbers in the southern and western t nite.l star, s, 
and is a dreaded pest of cattle, rendering the animals f ran- 
tic. and in some canes eausinu' death. 
buffalo-grass (bnf'a-16-gras), n. A common 
name for several low grasses very prevalent 
upon the plains east of the Rocky Mountains, 
including Buthloe dacti/loides, a dioecious spe- 
cies, and Bouteloua olii/oxtiirliya, with others of 
the same p'lius. 
buffalo-jack i lmf'a-16-jak), M. A tish of the fam- 
ily CaraHijidir. ('iinnuc iiixquitun. [Bermuda.] 
buffer-block 
buffalo-nut (l'iif'a-lo-nnt ). . 1. The fruit of 
the North Anii-rican .hnib I'l/riilnnn "/< ifira. 
2. Tin- plant itself. Also called mi-nut. 
buffalo-perch 0'iii'a-lo-perch i, . 1. A fish of 
t he family SI-HI nnl'i , Ip/iiiliiintiif ( l/it/ilmUm/tu.- I 
iiriiiniii-iia, witli elevated liaek nr slionlilers; the 
bubbler or fresh-water dninilisli. l;<ijim -., 
2. A fish of the family I'lilnxluuiidti; h-tinlm.* 
biibiilun ; a buffalo-nsh. 
The young . . . JHoftcn sold in the market jut a distinct 
specie*, under the name of Bufalo perch. Kirllun>l. 
buffalo-robe (buf'a-16-rob), H. The skin of the 
bison of North America, prepared with the hair 
on, and used as a carriage-rug and in other ways 
for protection from the cold. 
buffardt, [ME., < OF. bouffant, puffing, 
blowing, swelling; as a iioiui, a glutton; < 
bouffer, puff, blow: see buff*, and cf. buffer^.] 
A fool. 
Vet wol she . . . take a liu/uril rlche of gret vilewe, 
In hope that be sbal sterile withynne a while. 
Lydijair, Minor I'IIMIU, p. :rl. 
buff-coat (buf'kot), ii. 1. A military coat made 
of buff-leather, which gradually replaced the 
buff-jerkin as armor of steel became less com- 
mon, and was in especial favor at the time 
of the English civil wars. The buff-coat was com- 
in' inly wom by itself, and was so thick and unyielding ait 
to be considered proof against the sword, and even aguinat 
a pistol-ball except when tired at short range. It was 
also worn over the cuirass, which it partly concealed, and 
under It, especially among soldiers regularly enlisted. 
Buff-coats were sometimes richly embroidered with col- 
ored silks. 
Hence 2. A soldier. 
Hchiamatical pravity will grow up under the licentious- 
ness of war ; some profane Inif-coatu will authorize such 
incendiaries. /.'/.. llacket, Life of Abp. Williams, II. no. 
buffe't, etc. See buff 1 , etc. 
buffel, buffel-duck,"etc. See bufflc 1 , etc. 
buffer 1 (buf'er), n. [< buff 1 + -!.] If. A per- 
son who killed sound horses in order to sell 
their hides. 2. Same as buff-wheel. 
buffer 2 (buf'er), n. [< ME. buffere, < 'buffm, 
boffen, stutter, stammer: see buff 2 , r., and cf. 
buffard.] If. A stammerer. 
The tunge of Im/eres (L. ballxinnn] swiftli shal speke 
and pleynly. WycliJ, Isa. xxxii. 4 (Oxf.X 
2. A foolish fellow; a fellow; a duffer: a term 
expressive of extreme familiarity, and gener- 
ally having a flavor of contempt. [Slang or 
eolloq.] 
As the water grew rougher 
The more my poor hero continued to suffer, , 
Till the Sailors themselves cried, in pity, 
" Poor Bufer ! " 
Barham, Ingoldsby Legends, I. 306. 
3f. A person who took pay to swear false 
oaths ; a hired perjurer. 
buffer 3 (buf'er), w. [< &/, t'., + !.] 1. One 
who buffs or strikes ; a hitter. [Rare.] 2. Any 
apparatus for deadening the concussion be- 
tween a moving body and one against which it 
strikes. Specifically, an apparatus attached to railroad- 
Buffer. 
Part of under frame of an English railway-carriage, showing buffine- 
springs, a a, acted on at the ends by rods from the buffer-blocks, * P. 
cars to prevent injury from violent contact or collision. 
The butter shown |H,VC. which represents the form com- 
mon on British railways, consists of powerful springs and 
framing attached to carriages and wagons to deaden the 
concussion Iwtween them when they come into collision. 
Hence 3. Anything which serves to deaden 
or neutralize the shock of opposing forces. 
It Is evident that the period of an indctimt. h collaps- 
ing policy has closed. This means, Inevitably, the near 
approach of an end to the system of political tni/ent go 
far as India is concemed. Kctintmryh Her., rl.XI II. 19. 
A sense of humor . . . may have served as a Imf.r 
against the too importunate shock of disappointment. 
Loitvtt, Among my Itooks, 2d ser., p. :il.S. 
Hydraulic buffer, s-c A.vcfmn/iv. 
buffer-bar (buf' er-bar), n. A bar of wrought- 
iron placed at the end of a railroad-car to 
deaden the concussion between it and the next. 
The buffer-bars act generally n|>u a pair of springs, 
which give an elastic resistance when two cais conic to 
uetller. 
buffer-beam (buf 'er-bem), ii. 1. A transverse 
timber secured to the end sill of a freight-far. 
The dead-blocks are connected with this beam. 
2. The end timber of the platform of a pas- 
senger-car. 
buffer-block (buf'er-blok), n. 1. A block or 
piece of timber attached to the end timl>ernf a 
car, or of the platform of a passenger-car, above 
