Sc. [belongs to FLUFF sb.2; of onomatopœic origin.]
1. a. trans. To knock out of breath; to cause to pant. Only in pass. b. intr. To puff, pant. c. To make a fuss.
1790. Shirrefs, Poems, 21.
But, yet, nae ferly gin Im fluffd, | |
By Fortune I hae lang been buffd. |
1813. Hogg, Queens Wake, 70.
As fast as the hail, as fast as the gale, | |
As fast as the mydnycht leme, | |
We borit the breiste of the burstyng swale, | |
Or fluffit i the flotyng faem. |
1889. Mrs. Lynn Linton, Thro the Long Night, I. II. i. 310. She had often fluffed and fumed to Anne over that provision of her fathers will; and Anne knew exactly what she thought and how she felt.
2. trans. To make (gunpowder) ignite and go off. Also to fluff in the pan. Cf. FLASH v. 5 c.
1825. Jamieson, To fluff powder, to burn gunpowder; to make it fly off, S.
1855. Ogilvie, Suppl., Fluffed i the pan. Burned priming, without firing the barrel of the gun or pistol. [Scotch.]