1643. Randolph, Muses Looking-Glasse, i., 1. Flowrd. Iniquity aboundeth, though pure zeal Teach, preach, huffe, puffe, and snuffe at it, yet still, Still it aboundeth.
1673. Wycherley, Gentleman Dancing Master, v., 1. How! my surly, huffing, jealous, senseless, saucy master.
1675. Wycherley, Country Wife. 'Prologue.' Well, let the vain rash fop, by huffing so, Think to obtain the better terms of you.
1680. Dryden, Prol. to Lee's Cæsar Borgia, p. 29. So big you look, though claret you retrench, That, armed with bottled ale, you huff the French.
d. 1680. Rochester, Poems, 'Woman's Honour' (Chalmers, English Poets, 1810, viii., 239). This huffing honour domineers In breasts when he alone has place.
1682. Bunyan, Holy War (ed. M. Peacock, 1893, p. 72). He refused and huffed as well as he could, but in heart he was afraid.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v Huff. To huff and ding, to bounce and swagger.
1690. The Pagan Prince. And the same threats and menaces of the palatine being carry'd to the marshal de Tonneure, notwithstanding all his former encomiums, Oh! quo he, the palatine's a young prince; give him leave to huff and ding for his living; words break no bones: when all's done, 'tis the coach wheel, not the fly that raises the dust.
1699. Robert Franck, Northern Memoirs (quoted in New Review, Aug., 1893, p. 145). So huffed away.
1700. Mrs. Centlivre, Perjured Husband. 'Epilogue.' Let cowards cease to huff.
1705. Ward, Hudibras Redivivus, vol. I., pt. iii., p. 14. And in their frenzy, huff and threaten With what sad stripes we shall be beaten.
1708. Prior, Poems, 'The Mice.' (Aldine ed. ii., 244, 50). One went to Holland where they huff folk, T'other to vend his wares in Suffolk.
1714. Newest Academy of Compliments. Pray neighbour, why d'ye look awry? You're grown a wondrous stranger; You huff, you pout, you walk about As tho' you'd burst with anger.
1719. Durfey, Pills, etc., i., 283. Thus, thus I strut and huff. Idem., i., 154. But when the new ones did stoop, The t'other as huffing would be. Idem., v., 99. When Bullies leave huffing and Cowards their Trembling.
1725. Swift, Poems, 'A New Song' (Chalmers, English Poets, 18vo, xi., 446). If he goes to the baker's the baker will huff, And twenty pence ask for a twopenny loaf.
d. 1742. Somerville, Occasional Poems, 'The Officious Messenger' (Chalmers, English Poets, 1810, xi., 206). Her ladyship began to huff.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
2. To anger; to cheek (q.v.); to get angered.
1708. Mrs. Centlivre, The Busy-Body, iii., 4. Impossible, without he huffs the lady, and makes love to Sir Francis.
1835. Marryat, Jacob Faithful, ch. xiili. Upon this she huffs outright, and tells Tom he may go about his business, for she didn't care if she never sees him no more.
1839. W. H. Ainsworth, Jack Sheppard, p. 133 (Ed. 1840). If they do, now and then, run away with a knocker, paint a sign, beat the watch, or huff a magistrate.
Intj. (obsolete).—See quots. Also Huffa and Huffa-gallant. [Probably the oldest form of the word.]
c. 1510. Rastell, Four Elements (Dodsley, Old Plays, 4th ed., 1875, i., 20). With huffa gallant, tirl on the berry, And let the wide world wind.
c. 152(?). Hick Scorner (Dodsley, Old Plays, 4th ed., 1875, i., 188). Huff! huff! huff! who sent after me.
d. 1529. Skelton, Poems, 'Against Garnesche' (Dyce, i., 118, and note ii., 181-2). Huf a galante, Garneysche, loke on your comely ars.
To stand the huff, Verb. phr. (old).—To stand the reckoning.—Lex. Bal.
Also Huffy = easily offended; Huffed = annoyed; Huffily = testily; in a tantrum.
