Huff
/hʌf/noun
To breathe out noisily or to feel and show offended irritation.
Did you know?English huff is likely imitative of a forceful exhalation, and its history shows how a simple breath-sound can harden into a word for pride, offense, and emotional blowback.
Etymological Timeline
Early Modern English
English
huff
“to puff out breath; to snort or express irritation”
Middle English
English
huffen
“to blow, puff, or breathe hard”
Old Norse / Germanic
Gmc
hufa / huffa
“to puff or blow (likely expressive/imitative forms)”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*huffōną
“to puff, blow, or breathe forcefully”
Modern English
English
huff
“to breathe out noisily or to show offended annoyance”