chuff

¹

[chuhf]

noun

1. a rustic.

2. a boor; churl.

3. a miserly fellow.

chuff

²

[chuhf, choof]

adjective

British Dialect.

1. chubby; fat.

2. swollen with pride; proud; elated.

chuff

³

[chuhf]

noun

1. a sound of or like the exhaust of a steam engine.

verb (used without object)

1. to emit or proceed with chuffs; puff.

   The train chuffed along.

chuff

¹

/ tʃʌf /

noun

1. a puffing sound of or as if of a steam engine

verb

1. (intr) to move while emitting such sounds

   the train chuffed on its way

chuff

²

/ tʃʌf /

noun

1. dialect,  a boor; churl; sullen fellow

chuff

³

/ tʃʌf /

verb

1. slang,  (tr; usually passive) to please or delight

   he was chuffed by his pay rise

Word History and Origins

Origin of chuff¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English chuffe, choffe, chutte, of obscure origin

Origin of chuff²

First recorded in 1600–10; compare earlier chuff “puffed cheek”

Origin of chuff³

First recorded in 1910–15; imitative

Word History and Origins

Origin of chuff¹

C20: of imitative origin

Origin of chuff²

C17: from obsolete chuff (n) fat cheek, of obscure origin

Origin of chuff³

probably from chuff (adj) pleased, happy (earlier: chubby), from C16 chuff (obsolete n) a fat cheek, of unknown origin

Example Sentences

As Orange County has gone chuffing along to national applause, L.A. has gone into overdrive, launched into international orbit.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"We know how much he would have been so chuffed to have gotten his degree this time if he was still here," he said.

Read more on BBC

"It's coming together wonderfully and we're really happy and my dad's pretty chuffed by it, so it's fingers crossed," he said.

Read more on BBC

Drakeford is chuffed Reeves has given him more to spend, but every week in the Senedd opponents attack other big decisions she has taken.

Read more on BBC

"It boosted the local economy and I'm chuffed to see we have another one."

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• boor 
• lout 
• oaf