Etymology

buffy

B3U1F4F4Y4

Today it means: Of a buff color. Full definition →

English buff ← Middle French buffle ← Old French bufle
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buffy · adjective1

  1. Ancient Greek[Term?]?
  2. Ancient Greekβούβαλος (boúbalos)
  3. Latinbūbalus
  4. Late Latinbufalus
  5. Italianbufalo
  6. Old Frenchbufle
  7. Middle Frenchbuffle
  8. Englishbuffe
  9. Englishbuff
  10. English todaybuffy

From buff + -y.

Buffy · proper noun2

  1. Proto-Semitic*ʔil-
  2. Biblical Hebrewאֵל (el)
  3. Biblical Hebrewנִשְׁבַּע (nishbá)
  4. Biblical Hebrewאֱלִישֶׁבַע (ʾĕlîšeḇaʿ)
  5. Ancient GreekἘλισάβετ (Elisábet)
  6. Middle EnglishElizabeth
  7. EnglishElizabeth
  8. English todayBuffy

A pet form of Elizabeth (cf. Bethy), based on a child's unsuccessful attempts to pronounce the name. Popularized by the Buffy the Vampire Slayer franchise.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.