In fact, at one point, Ms. Cohen writes, “To anyone besides Watergate buffs, the dispute may seem trivial.”
It took a lot of desperate hectoring for the buffs—Do I have to do everything myself here?
He tans, moisturizes, exfoliates, and buffs, and then gels his hair back, with a crisp white button-up.
Luck hadn't been with him so far as the buffs were concerned.
The Guides and buffs now climbed the ridges to the right and left.
Near the guns there were four separate small bodies of buffs, none of which appears to have been detailed as an escort.
I was in the army—in the 'buffs'; maybe you knew one Clancy who was in them?
A private in the up-going regiment asked a friend in the buffs what it was like at the front.
He was the Squire Blunden,—the father of the lieutenant in the "buffs."
On a day late in January, 1846, the buffs proceeded by rail to Portsmouth.
1570s, buffe leather "leather made of buffalo hide," from Middle French buffle "buffalo" (15c., via Italian, from Latin bufalus; see buffalo (n.)).
The color term comes from the hue of buffalo hides (later ox hides). Association of "hide" and "skin" led c.1600 to in the buff. Buff-colored uniforms of New York City volunteer firefighters since 1820s led to meaning "enthusiast" (1903).
The Buffs are men and boys whose love of fires, fire-fighting and firemen is a predominant characteristic. [N.Y. "Sun," Feb. 4, 1903]
"well-built, hunky," 1980s, from buff (v.) "polish, make attractive."
"to polish, make attractive," 1885, in reference to the treatment of buff leather or else to the use of buff cloth in polishing metals, from buff (n.). Related: Buffed; buffing.
adjective
Naked
Related Terms
[1604+; probably fr the pale yellowish color of the leather called buff, likened to skin]
adjective
(also buffed, buffed out) Well-built; muscular; hunky: Looking mighty buff, by the way (1980s+ Teenagers)
verb
(also buff out) To do body-building; put on muscle; become brawnier: Fudgie wondered if Tweezer had buffed out in San Quentin (1980s+ Teenagers)
verb phrase
(also buff up) To be ingratiating and attentive, so as to keep on good terms: Gotta go. Gotta buff (1990s+ Hollywood)
[probably fr buff, ''polish, make attractive,'' a process originally done with a leather buff stick; the adj sense may be derived fr buffalo, as an image of strength]
v,v phr
To make a patient's chart look good, esp in preparing him or her for discharge
[1970s+ Medical; fr buff, ''to polish'']
noun
An HH53 long-range rescue helicopter, called a ''big ugly fat fellow'' (1960s+ Air Force)
