See quotations.
1737. Savannah stands on a flat bluff, (so they term any high land hanging over a creek or river,) which rises forty-five feet perpendicular from the river, and commands it several miles both upward and downward.—John Wesley, Journal (Dec.). (N.E.D.) (Italics in the original.)
1797. “Bluff” is a name given in this country to any promontory of land that terminates almost perpendicularly.—Fra. Baily, F.R.S., ‘Journal of a Tour,’ p. 261 (Lond., 1856).
1817. The ascent from this valley into the country is precipitous, and is called “the Bluff;” it may consist of rock or clay. Betwixt these bluffs the river runs in a very crooked channel, and is perpetually changing its bed, as the only permanent bounds are the bluffs.—John Bradbury, ‘Travels,’ p. 45 n.
1823. The immediate valley of the Missouri preserves great uniformity in breadth, and is bounded on both sides by chains of rocky bluffs rising from one to two hundred feet above the surface of the included valley, and separating it from those vast woodless plains which overspread so great a part of the country.—E. James, ‘Rocky Mountain Expedition,’ i. 88 (Phila.). (Italics in the original.)
1833. The river bluffs on the opposite shore, were never more than a mile from us.—‘Narrative of J. O. Pattie,’ p. 97 (Cincinnati).
1841. Many years ago you erected a light-house on the bluff at Natchez.—Mr. Thompson of Miss., House of Repr., Jan. 23: Cong. Globe, p. 177, App.
