muff

[ muhf ]

/ mʌf /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR muff ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a thick, tubular case for the hands, covered with fur or other material, used by women and girls for warmth and as a handbag.

a bungled or clumsy action or performance.

Sports. a failure to hold onto a ball that may reasonably be expected to be caught successfully.

a tuft of feathers on the sides of the head of certain fowls.

Slang: Vulgar. a woman's pubic area.

See under muff glass.

verb (used with object)

Informal. to bungle; handle clumsily: He muffed a good opportunity.

Sports. to fail to hold onto (a ball that may reasonably be expected to be caught successfully); fumble.

verb (used without object)

Informal. to bungle; perform clumsily.

Nearby words

muenster, muesli, muesli bar, muezzin, muf, muff, muff glass, muffin, muffin man, muffin stand, muffin top

Origin of muff

1590–1600; < Dutch mof, earlier moffel, muffel mitten, muff < Old North French moufle < early Medieval Latin muffula, perhaps < Frankish

Related forms

muff·y, adjective

Definition for muff (2 of 2)

muff glass

noun

sheet glass made from a blown cylinder (muff) that is split and flattened.

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

Examples from the Web for muff

She picked up her muff, but he went over and stood against the door.
Where There's A Will|Mary Roberts Rinehart
She walked with rhythmical step, her gloved hands hidden in her muff, her eyes downcast, as though she were immersed in thought.
The conquest of Rome|Matilde Serao
"No," said Una, who could not drag her fascinated eyes from that squirrel muff.
Rainbow Valley|Lucy Maud Montgomery
People do not expect steam from the interior of a visitor's muff.
The Matador of the Five Towns and Other Stories|Arnold Bennett

Paul made a hiss which Bruno understood, and went at Muff more fiercely.
Our Young Folks, Vol 1, No. 1|Various

British Dictionary definitions for muff (1 of 2)

muff

/ (mʌf) /

noun

an open-ended cylinder of fur or cloth into which the hands are placed for warmth

the tuft on either side of the head of certain fowls

Word Origin for muff

C16: probably from Dutch mof, ultimately from French mouffle muffle 1

British Dictionary definitions for muff (2 of 2)

muff

/ (mʌf) /

verb

to perform (an action) awkwardly

(tr) to bungle (a shot, catch, etc) in a game

noun

any unskilful play in a game, esp a dropped catch

any clumsy or bungled action

a bungler

Word Origin for muff

C19: of uncertain origin

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