Dictionary entry

Buff

Webster's Dictionary 1913

Buff (bŭf), n. [OE. buff, buffe, buff, buffalo, F. buffle buffalo. See Buffalo.] 1. A sort of leather, prepared from the skin of the buffalo, dressed with oil, like chamois; also, the skins of oxen, elks, and other animals, dressed in like manner. “A suit of buff.” Shak.

2. The color of buff; a light yellow, shading toward pink, gray, or brown.

A visage rough,

Deformed, unfeatured, and a skin of buff.

Dryden.

3. A military coat, made of buff leather. Shak.

4. (Med.) The grayish viscid substance constituting the buffy coat. See Buffy coat, under Buffy, a.

5. (Mech.) A wheel covered with buff leather, and used in polishing cutlery, spoons, etc.

6. The bare skin; as, to strip to the buff.

To be in buff is equivalent to being naked.

Wright.