Cuff

Pronunciation

• IPA: /kÊŒf/
• Rhymes: -ÊŒf

From Middle English cuffe, coffe ("glove, mitten"), of obscure origin. Perhaps from Old English cuffie ("hood, cap"), from Medieval Latin cofia, cofea, cuffa, cuphia ("helmet, headdress, hood, cap"), from Frankish *kuf(f)ja ("headdress"), from Proto-Germanic *kupjō ("cap"). Cognate with Middle High German kupfe ("cap").

Full definition of cuff

Noun

1. (obsolete) glove; mitten.
2. The end of a shirt sleeve that covers the wrist.
3. The end of a pants leg, folded up.

Related terms

• cufflinks
• turnup
• off-the-cuff

Verb

1. (transitive) To furnish with cuffs.
2. (transitive) To handcuff.

1520, “to hit”, apparently of origin, from Norwegian kuffa ("to push, shove") or Swedish kuffa ("to knock, thrust, strike"). Related to Low German kuffen ("to box the ears"), German kuffen ("to thrash"). Perhaps related also to Swedish skuffa ("to push, shove"). More at scuff, shove, scuffle.

Verb

1. (transitive) To hit, as a reproach, particularly with the open palm to the head; to slap.
• ShakespeareI swear I'll cuff you, if you strike again.
• DrydenThey with their quills did all the hurt they could,
  And cuffed the tender chickens from their food.
2. (intransitive) To fight; to scuffle; to box.
• DrydenWhile the peers cuff to make the rabble sport.
3. To buffet.
• Tennysoncuffed by the gale

Noun

1. A blow, especially with the open hand; a box; a slap.
• SpenserSnatcheth his sword, and fiercely to him flies;
  Who well it wards, and quitten cuff with cuff.
• HudibrasMany a bitter kick and cuff.