fluff

[fluhf]

noun

light, downy particles, as of cotton.

a soft, light, downy mass: a fluff of summer clouds.

something of no consequence: The book is pure fluff, but fun to read.

an error or blunder, especially an actor's memory lapse in the delivery of lines.

verb (used with object)

to make into fluff; shake or puff out (feathers, hair, etc.) into a fluffy mass (often followed by up): to fluff up the sofa pillows.

to make a mistake in: The leading man fluffed his lines.

verb (used without object)

to become fluffy; move, float, or settle down like fluff.

to make a mistake, especially in the delivery of lines by a performer; blunder.

Origin of fluff

1780–90; perhaps blend of flue² and puff

Related formsfluff·er, nounun·fluffed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for fluffer

Contemporary Examples of fluffer

Season 3, Episode 16 “The Fluffer” Olivia confronts vice presidential candidate Andrew about his affair with Mellie.
Kerry Washington’s Favorite ‘Scandal’ Season 3 Moments
Kerry Washington
August 8, 2014

British Dictionary definitions for fluffer

fluffer

noun

a person employed on a pornographic film set to ensure that male actors are kept aroused

fluff

noun

soft light particles, such as the down or nap of cotton or wool

any light downy substance

an object, matter, etc, of little importance; trifle

informal a mistake, esp in speaking or reading lines or performing music

informal a young woman (esp in the phrase a bit of fluff)

verb

to make or become soft and puffy by shaking or patting; puff up

informal to make a mistake in performing (an action, dramatic speech, music, etc)

Word Origin for fluff

C18: perhaps from flue ²

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for fluffer

"track sweeper on the London underground," by 1956.

fluff

"to shake into a soft mass," 1875, from fluff (n.). Meaning "make a mistake" is from 1884, originally in theater slang. Related: Fluffed; fluffing.

fluff

"light, feathery stuff," 1790, apparently a variant of floow "wooly substance, down, nap" (1580s), perhaps from Flemish vluwe, from French velu "shaggy, hairy," from Latin vellus "fleece," or Latin villus "tuft of hair" (see velvet). OED suggests fluff as "an imitative modification" of floow, "imitating the action of puffing away some light substance." Slang bit of fluff "young woman" is from 1903. The marshmallow confection Fluff dates to c.1920 in Massachusetts, U.S.