Pouf
Origin 1
From French pouf, pouff, of imitative origin; compare puff.
Alternative forms
Full definition of pouf
Noun
pouf
(plural poufs)- (historical) A headdress for women popular in 18th century France. from 18th c.
- A high hair style for women consisting of a roll or pad of hair, worn up. from 19th c.
- 2009, February 10, Katie Thomas, The Poodle Can’t Talk Now; She’s in With Her Stylist, Hosaka, nearly everyone agrees, is a master of detail, an artist who tends his poodles’ poufs as if they were bonsai trees from his native Japan.
- (dressmaking) Part of an item of clothing consisting of gathered fabric in a bunch. from 19th c.
- A low cushioned seat with no back; a padded footstool. from 19th c.
- 1922, H.D., Asphodel:The voice came from the end of the divan but Hermione, seated square before the fire on a low pouffe did not turn to face its suave producer.
- 1948, John Creasey, The Case Against Paul Raeburn:Raeburn's handsome head was resting against the back of his chair; Eve sat on a pouf in front of the fire.
- 1971, ‘Slaughter at the Summer Palace’, Time, 26 Aug 1971:Italian Ambassador Amedeo Guillet, who makes it a practice never to eat at midday, lounged on a Moroccan pouf reading The Peter Principle.
- A short skirt gathered into a rounded puffy shape; a puffball. from 20th c.
- A ball of fabric (such as nylon monofilament netting) used for washing (as an alternative to a flannel, washcloth, sponge, etc.).
- (dated) A small saddle cushion worn atop the buttocks (as a fashion trend – similar to a bustle).
- Alternative form of puff
- Alternative form of poof
Synonyms
- (homosexual) horse's hoof cockney rhyming slang, poofta; pooftah; poofter; poof
Origin 2
Imitative.
Alternative forms
poofInterjection
- Onomatopoeia indicating a cloud of smoke or wind; caused by a deflating object, or a magical disappearance.Pouf, he was gone.