chuffle

American  

[chuhf-uhl] / ˈtʃʌf əl /

verb (used without object)

chuffled, chuffling

1. (of the larger species of cats) to make a low snuffling sound analogous to the purring of smaller cat species, often as a greeting.

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noun

1. such a sound.

Etymology

Origin of chuffle

Imitative; cf. chuff ³, -le