Buffer, a woman employed in a Sheffield warehouse to give the final polish to goods previously to their being plated.
Buffer, a dog. Dogs’ skins were formerly in great request—hence the term BUFF, meaning in old English to skin. It is still used in the ring, BUFFED meaning stripped naked, though the term BUFF, as applied to the skin, is most likely due to its resemblance to the leather so called. “Stripped to the BUFF,” cannot have any reference to dog skinning, though it may have originally referred to the BUFF jerkins worn under defensive armour. In Irish cant, BUFFER is a boxer. The BUFFER of a railway-carriage doubtless received its very appropriate name from the old pugilistic application of this term.
Buffle-Head, a stupid or obtuse person.—Miege. German, BUFFELHAUPT, buffalo-headed. Occurs in Plautus’ Comedies made English, 1694.
Buffs, the Third Regiment of Foot in the British army. From their facings.
Buffy, intoxicated.
Buggy, a gig, or light chaise. Common term in America and in India, as well as in England.
Bug-Hunter, a low wretch who plunders drunken men.
Bug-Walk, a coarse term for a bed.
Build, applied in fashionable slang to the make or style of dress, &c. “It’s a tidy BUILD, who made it?” A tailor is sometimes called a “trousers’ BUILDER.”