Buff

n. [Fr. bœuf, beef, O. Eng. buff, buffe, buffalo. “The third regiment, distinguished by flesh-colored facings, from which it derived the name of the Buffs, had . . . fought not less bravely.” Macaulay.

1. A sort of leather, prepared from the skin of the buffalo, dressed with oil, like chamois; also, the skins of oxen, elks, and other animals, dressed in like manner; buff-skin. “A suit of buff.” Shak.
2. A military coat, made of buff-skin or similar leather. Shak.
3. A color between light pink and light yellow.

A visage rough, Deformed, unfeatured, and a skin of buff. Dryden.

4. (Med.) A grayish, viscid coat or crust, called also buffy coat, observed on blood drawn from a vein during the existence of violent inflammation, pregnancy, &c., and particularly in pleurisy.
5. (Mech.) A wheel covered with buff leather, and used in polishing, as cutlery, &c. Francis.
6. A buffet; a blow; a stroke. [See infra.]

Nathless so sore a buff to him it lent That made him reel. Spenser. 7. The bare skin; as, to strip to the buff. “To be in buff is equivalent to being naked.” Wright.

a. 1. Made of buff leather. “A buff waist-coat.” Goldsmith.

2. Of the color of buff leather; intermediate between light pink and light yellow; as, buff color; a buff vest.
3. Firm; sturdy.

And for the good old cause stood buff, ’Gainst many a bitter kick and cuff. Hudibras.