An Etymological Dictionary of the Scottish Language / in which the words are explained in their different senses, authorized by the names of the writers by whom they are used, or the titles of the works in which they occur, and deduced from their originals

by John Jamieson

Alem. buff-en, pulsare.

To buff herring, to steep salted herrings in fresh water, and hang them up, S.

Buff, s. A stroke, a blow, S.
Chr. Kirk.

Fr. bouffe, a blow, L. B. buffa, alapa.

To BUFF out, v. n. To laugh aloud, S.

Fr. bouffee, a sudden, violent, and short blast, buff-ir, to spurt.

BUFF, s. Nonsense, foolish talk, S.
Shirrefs.

Teut. beffe, id. nugae, irrisio; Fr. buffoi, vanité; also moquerie.

BUFF, s. Skin. Stript to the buff, stript naked, S.

Perhaps from E. buff, as denoting leather prepared from the skin of a buffalo.