pouf

¹

[poof]

noun

1. a high headdress with the hair rolled in puffs, worn by women in the late 18th century.

2. an arrangement of the hair over a pad; puff.

3. a puff of material as an ornament on a dress or headdress.

4. Also pouffe. a broad, backless, usually round, cushionlike seat, often large enough for several people.

pouf

²

[poof, poof]

noun

British Slang: Extremely Disparaging and Offensive.

1. poof.

pouf

/ puːf /

noun

1. a large solid cushion, usually cylindrical or cubic in shape, used as a seat

2. 1. a woman's hair style, fashionable esp in the 18th century, in which the hair is piled up in rolled puffs

   2. a pad set in the hair to make such puffs

3. a stuffed pad worn under panniers

4. derogatory,  less common spellings of poof

Other Word Forms

• poufed adjective
• pouffed adjective
• poufy adjective
• pouffy adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pouf¹

From French, dating back to 1810–20; puff

Word History and Origins

Origin of pouf¹

C19: from French; see _puff

Example Sentences

Maybe crushed pistachios for some extra verdance, maybe a loose pouf of whipped cream.

Read more on Salon

Also in the athletes' area, there will be "coffee tables made from recycled shuttlecocks, poufs from parachute canvas and chairs from recycled bottle tops", according to organisers.

Read more on BBC

“Instead of a large cocktail table in your hang-out zone, include a collection of small tables and a pouf or ottoman to continue with the theme of keeping your space flexible, “ she says.

Read more on Seattle Times

Still, he notes, when he calls up memories of the phrase “Andrew’s a pouf” from desktop scrawls and overheard conversations at school, the aftereffects of those painful adolescent experiences linger on into adulthood.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Her hair is a tangled pouf at the back of her head.

Read more on Literature

Related Words

• bedspread 
• blanket 
• comforter