I. ˈbəfə̇t, usu -ə̇d.+V noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from Old French, diminutive of buffe blow — more at buff
1. : a blow with the hand : slap , cuff
2.
a. : a blow from any source
recurrent buffets of fate
b. : something that affects like a blow (as the violence of wind or wave)
c. : the shaking and vibrating of an airplane when forced to a speed greater than that for which it was designed — see buffeting
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English buffeten, from Old French buffeter, from buffet
transitive verb
1. : to strike with or as if with the hand : cuff , slap
2.
a. : to strike repeatedly : pommel , batter
the wind buffeted him as he climbed the slope
b. : to contend against : strive with
buffeting the billows
3. : to drive, force, or move by or as if by repeated blows — often used with about
he was buffeted about by his somber thoughts
buffeted about by one failure after another
intransitive verb
1. : strive , contend , struggle
2.
a. : to progress or make one's way especially under conditions of stress or difficulty or by or as if by physical struggle
the … child as he buffets back and forth between mother with lovers and father with … mistresses — James Kelly
the milk train buffeting along through the valley
b. of an airplane : to undergo or become subjected to buffeting
Synonyms: see beat
III. |bə|fā, (ˈ)bü|fā, _bəˈfā sometimes (ˈ)bu̇|fā; Brit usually ˈbu̇(ˌ)fā for sense 3b and often ˈbəfit for senses 1 & 2; sense 4 is ˈbəfi(t) noun
( -s )
Etymology: French
1. : a sideboard often without a mirror
2. : a cupboard or set of shelves either movable or fixed to a wall for the display of tableware
3.
a. : a counter for refreshments
b. chiefly Britain : a restaurant operated in conjunction with some other enterprise and primarily as a public convenience (as in a railway station or theater) ; specifically : buffet car
c. : a meal at which persons help themselves to food set out on a buffet or a table and eat while standing or sitting but not at a formally arranged table
a buffet luncheon
4. usually buffet stool chiefly Scotland : footstool , hassock