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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

FLUFFER, v., n. Cf. Flaffer.

I. v., intr. To flutter, to flap (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 224); tr. to ruffle, lit. and fig., to excite, agitate (Ib.). Hence flufferer, a pound note (Abd.⁴ 1929). Cf. flaffer, s.v. Flaff, v.¹, 1.Ayr. 1890 J. Service Notandums 67:
He stottit and fluffer't as he had been wud.Sc. 1913 H. P. Cameron Imit. Christ i. xiv.:
They kythe tae be i' guid lownness whan things fa' oot weel an' tae their ain wush, bot an it be itherwyce they are sune fluffer't an' become dowie.Abd. 1920 G. P. Dunbar Peat Reek 16:
He blew the doos wi' their dookits awa' An' fluffer't the cocks till they couldna craw.Abd. 1929 Evening Express (16 Feb.):
He had's bonnet rugged oot ower's een an' the fits o's breeks wis flufferin' roon's legs like a thrashin' flail.Sc. 1949 N. B. Morrison Winnowing Years i. iv.:
For the first time Joseph Fleming looked fluffered.Abd. 1993:
E hens likes tae fluffer in e san.

II. n. 1. A flapping, fluttering motion (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 224; ne.Sc. 1952); anything that flaps or flutters, tatters; a puff of wind (Abd.¹⁵ 1948, fluffert); a fluttering noise (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 224).Sh. 1877 G. Stewart Fireside Tales 104:
A peerie while efter we got him in he gies an awful fluffer till da boat shüick anunder him agen.Abd. 1888 Bon-Accord (8 Dec.) 9:
The fite cheelie ga' a fluffert wi's wings, an' wis awa' ower the briggie afore ye cud a said Jeck Robison.Sc. 1891 N. Dickson Kirk Beadle 103:
One minister sin' he cum amang's has banged the puir Bible till it's a' fluffers an' lowse leaves.Kcd. 1929 J. B. Philip Weelum o' the Manse 20:
In this connection there is also a saying of his regarding true religion, of which he said that “it was a' bluff withoot that, and the first fluffert o' win' would blaw it a' awa.”

2. Palpitation, agitation of mind (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 224).Sc. 1913 H. P. Cameron Imit. Christ iii. xi.:
E'en i' guid grienins an' wushes it is weel for ye till thorter yersel whyles; least be owre muckle zele ye rin intil fluffer o' min'.