adj., n., & v.
--adj. of a yellowish beige colour (buff envelope).
--n.
1. a yellowish beige colour.
2 colloq. an enthusiast, esp. for a particular hobby (railway buff).
3 colloq. the human skin unclothed.
4 a a velvety dull-yellow ox-leather. b (attrib.) (of a garment etc.) made of this (buff gloves).
5 (the Buffs) the former East Kent Regiment (from the colour of its uniform facings).
--v.tr.
1. polish (metal, fingernails, etc.).
2 make (leather) velvety like buff, by removing the surface.
Phrases and idioms:
buff-stick a stick covered with buff and used for polishing. in the buff colloq. naked.
Etymology: orig. sense 'buffalo', prob. f. F buffle; sense 2 of n. orig. f. buff uniforms formerly worn by New York volunteer firemen, applied to enthusiastic fire-watchers