I. ˈbəf noun
Etymology: Middle French buffle wild ox, from Old Italian bufalo
Date: 1570
1. : a garment (as a uniform) made of buff leather
2. : the state of being nude
sunbathing in the buff
3.
a. : a moderate orange yellow
b. : a light to moderate yellow
4. : a device having a soft absorbent surface (as of cloth) by which polishing material is applied
5.
[earlier buff an enthusiast about going to fires; perhaps from the buff overcoats worn by volunteer firefighters in New York City ab 1820]
: fan , enthusiast
II. adjective
Date: 1746
1. : of the color buff
2. or buffed : having a physique enhanced by bodybuilding exercises
III. transitive verb
Date: 1838
1. : polish , shine
waxed and buff ed the floor
2. : to give a velvety surface to (leather)