Puff
/pΚf/noun
A short, quick burst of breath, air, smoke, or vapor; also a light swelling or a soft, airy object.
Did you know?English 'puff' is an expressive word built from the noise of a sudden breath, showing how some words were born from pure sound rather than a neat classical root.
Etymological Timeline
Late Middle English
English
puffe
βto blow in short bursts; a short blast of air or smokeβ
Middle English
English
puff
βa quick breath, gust, or blast; to emit in short burstsβ
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*puff-
βan imitative or expressive base associated with blowing or puffingβ
Old English
English
puffian
βto blow or puff out (attested in related expressive forms, not a fixed inherited noun)β
Modern English
English
puff
βa short burst of breath, air, smoke, or vapor; also a light swelling or an airy confectionβ