powder puff

¹

noun

1. a soft, feathery ball or pad, as of cotton or down, for applying powder to the skin.

powder-puff

²

[ pou-der-puhf ]

adjective

, Informal.

1. limited to participation by women or girls:

   She plays on the powder-puff touch football team.

2. inconsequential; trifling; lightweight:

   a powder-puff company with little financing and a weak sales effort.

powder puff

noun

1. a soft pad or ball of fluffy material used for applying cosmetic powder to the skin

Word History and Origins

Origin of powder puff¹

First recorded in 1695–1705

Origin of powder puff²

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

Instead of NFL football, I was treated to an evening of powder-puff.

From The Daily Beast

It was an ordinary little powder puff of pink silk and white down—very small, very dainty, if very commonplace.

From Project Gutenberg

My indispensable steel mirror with patent lanyard and powder puff for attachment to service revolver is in perfect working order.

From Project Gutenberg

A—you don't happen to have a small bag to hold a powder-puff, and so on, you know?

From Project Gutenberg

Oh, Mr. Shockley, between you and this Western sun, I shall soon need a new powder puff.

From Project Gutenberg

And away she and her sister skipped, to put on the brown toques, and to refresh themselves with a powder puff.

From Project Gutenberg