Buff — Defs

01 n. A sort of leather, prepared from the skin of the buffalo, dressed with oil, like chamois; also, the skins of oxen, elks, and other animals,…

1.
A sort of leather, prepared from the skin of the buffalo, dressed with oil, like chamois; also, the skins of oxen, elks, and other animals, dressed in like manner.
2.
The color of buff; a light yellow, shading toward pink, gray, or brown.
“A visage rough, Deformed, unfeatured, and a skin of buff.” — Dryden.
3.
A military coat, made of buff leather.
4.
The grayish viscid substance constituting the buffy coat. See Buffy coat, under Buffy, a.(Med.) See: Buffy
5.
A wheel covered with buff leather, and used in polishing cutlery, spoons, etc.(Mech.)
6.
The bare skin; as, to strip to the buff.[Colloq.]
“To be in buff is equivalent to being naked.” — Wright.

02 a. Made of buff leather.

1.
Made of buff leather.
2.
Of the color of buff.

Phrases & compounds

Buff coat — a close, military outer garment, with short sleeves, and laced tightly over the chest, made of buffalo skin, or other thick and elastic material, worn by soldiers in the 17th century as a defensive covering.

Buff jerkin — originally, a leather waistcoat; afterward, one of cloth of a buff color.

Buff stick — a strip of wood covered with buff leather, used in polishing.

03 v. t. to polish with a soft cloth, especially one similar to a buff{5}. See Buff, n., 5.

1.
to polish with a soft cloth, especially one similar to a buff{5}. See Buff, n., 5. See: buff{5}, Buff

04 v. t. To strike.

1.
To strike.[Obs.]

05 n. A buffet; a blow; -- obsolete except in the phrase “Blindman's buff.” See blindman's buff.

1.
A buffet; a blow; -- obsolete except in the phrase “Blindman's buff.” See blindman's buff. See: blindman's buff
“Nathless so sore a buff to him it lent That made him reel.” — Spenser.

06 a. Firm; sturdy.

1.
Firm; sturdy.
“And for the good old cause stood buff, 'Gainst many a bitter kick and cuff.” — Hudibras.