Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word
pouf. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
pouf, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
pouf in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
pouf you have here. The definition of the word
pouf will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
pouf, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Pronunciation
Etymology 1
From French pouf, pouff, of imitative origin; compare puff.
Noun
pouf (plural poufs)
- (historical) A headdress for women popular in 18th century France.
- A high hair style for women consisting of a roll or pad of hair, worn up.
2009 February 10, Katie Thomas, “The Poodle Can’t Talk Now; She’s in With Her Stylist”, in New York Times: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.
- A low cushioned seat with no back; a padded footstool.
- Synonym: tumpty
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 August 26, “Slaughter at the Summer Palace”, in Time: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.
- 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
1988 August 20, Chris Reed, “The English 'Strip-tique'”, in Gay Community News, volume 16, number 6, page 16:The same sort of blatant hypocrisy manifest in a tabloid paper notorious for its daily combination of a topless female centerfold with articles condemning the "immorality" of "poufs" and "queers."
Synonyms
Derived terms
Translations
Verb
pouf (third-person singular simple present poufs, present participle poufing, simple past and past participle poufed)
- (transitive) To make poufy or bouffant.
- to pouf the hair
Etymology 2
Imitative.
poof
Interjection
pouf
- Onomatopoeia indicating a cloud of smoke or wind; caused by a deflating object, or a magical disappearance.
Pouf, he was gone.
Anagrams
French
Pronunciation
Noun
pouf m (plural poufs)
- pouffe (thick cushion)
- a girl of bad conduct
Descendants
Interjection
pouf
- poof (onomatopoeia)
Further reading