pouf

plural poufs · alternative pouffe

1. historicalA headdress for women popular in 18th century France.First known use 18th c.
2. A high hair style for women consisting of a roll or pad of hair, worn up.First known use 19th c.

   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.

   2009 February 10, Katie Thomas, “The Poodle Can’t Talk Now; She’s in With Her Stylist”, in New York Times

3. businessPart of an item of clothing consisting of gathered fabric in a bunch.First known use 19th c.
4. A low cushioned seat with no back; a padded footstool.First known use 19th c.

   Raeburn's handsome head was resting against the back of his chair; Eve sat on a pouf in front of the fire.

   1948, John Creasey, The Case Against Paul Raeburn

   3 more examples

   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.

   1922, H.D., Asphodel

   Italian Ambassador Amedeo Guillet, who makes it a practice never to eat at midday, lounged on a Moroccan pouf reading The Peter Principle.

   1971 August 26, “Slaughter at the Summer Palace”, in Time

   Pistachio and date-filled cakes glisten under a glass cloche as customers drinking cardamom tea settle into brightly tapestried pouf chairs at the Pouya café and cultural center in Paris.

   2025 June 27, Colette Davidson, Mark Sappenfield, “For Iranian diaspora in Europe, the war back home is a dilemma”, in The Christian Science Monitor

   Synonyms: tumpty, footstool, hassock, ottoman, tumpty

5. A short skirt gathered into a rounded puffy shape; a puffball.First known use 20th c.
6. A ball of fabric (such as nylon monofilament netting) used for washing (as an alternative to a flannel, washcloth, sponge, etc.).
7. datedA small saddle cushion worn atop the buttocks (as a fashion trend – similar to a bustle).
8. alternativeAlternative form of puff
9. alternativeAlternative form of poof.

   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."

   1988 August 20, Chris Reed, “The English 'Strip-tique'”, in Gay Community News, volume 16, number 6, page 16

present singular third person poufs · participle present poufing · participle past poufed · past poufed · alternative pouffe

1. transitiveTo make poufy or bouffant.

   to pouf the hair

1. Onomatopoeia indicating a cloud of smoke or wind; caused by a deflating object, or a magical disappearance.

   Pouf, he was gone.