1705–7. Ward, Hudibras Redivivus, vol. II., pt. iv., p. 26. I pay’d three Shillings, in a Huff, For my half Pint of liquid Stuff.
1759–67. Sterne, Tristram Shandy, ch. xxix. He left off the study of projectiles in a kind of huff, and betook himself to the practical part of fortification only. Idem. ch. c. Can I? cried Susannah, shutting the door in a huff.
1769. Chatterton, Poems, ‘Journal’ (Chalmers, English Poets, 1810, xv., 495). ‘Sir,’ quoth the Rector in a huff.
1777. Sheridan, Trip to Scarborough, i., 1. The lady not condescending to give me any serious reasons for having fooled me for a month, I left her in a huff.
1825. Neal, Bro. Jonathan, bk. II., ch. 16. What a huff you’re at! I only axed a question.
1855. Thackeray, Newcomes, ch. xx. He is as proud as Lucifer, he is always taking huff about one thing or the other.
1855. Browning, Men and Women, ‘Fra Lippo Lippi’ (Ed. 1864, p. 357). You’ll not mistake an idle word Spoke in a huff by a poor monk?
1885. T. E. Brown, The Doctor, p. 30. Already my goodness! he’s taking the huff.
1892. Anstey, Model Music-Hall, 37. Some parties in a huff rage At the plea for Female Suffrage.
2. (old).—A bully; a Hector (q.v.); a sharper. Also Captain Huff.