Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1866
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†POUFF, n., v., adv.
I. n. 1. A heavy blow or fall, the sound so made, a thud.Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 133:
A hard the pouff o' im, fin he fell aff o' the dyke.
2. A heavy step or carriage, the act of walking with a heavy step.Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 133:
He keepit a sair pouff a' day through the toon.
3. A big, stupid person, a dolt (Gregor); a short stout person (Cai. 1920). Also in form pouffin, id. (Gregor).
II. v. 1. To beat with heavy thuds, to belabour, freq. with in or up. Vbl.n. pouffin, a severe beating, a trouncing.Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 133:
Pouff in the pailin' post.
2. To knock, to dash heavily or violently.Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 133:
He poufft 'im our on's back.
3. To walk in a heavy-footed way, to “clump”.Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 133:
He geed pouffin' ben the fleer.
III. adv. With a dull, heavy sound or footfall, thud!Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 133:
He geed pouff against the wa'.
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"Pouff n., v., adv.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 6 Feb 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/pouff>
