chuff

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

15th century, dialectal, from Middle English chuffe (“a rustic, boor”), in noun sense “stupid fellow”. Adjective sense “surly, displeased” from 1832.

All lity, we'll chuff along and fill up tanks at the Club. — That Which Hath Wings: A Novel of the Day, Richard Dehan
On the great slopes were houses and farmsteads throwing off the night and in the river the Bessie May Brown, her red light and her green light trailing scarfs of color on the river, as she chuffed and clanged her bell, and smote the water with her stern wheel. — The best short stories of 1920, and the yearbook of the American short story, Unknown

puff, huff

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