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puffin

[ puhf-in ]

noun

  1. any of several alcidine sea birds of the genera Fratercula and Lunda, having a short neck and a large, compressed, grooved bill, as F. arctica Atlantic puffin, of the North Atlantic.


puffin

/ ˈpʌfɪn /

noun

  1. any of various northern diving birds of the family Alcidae (auks, etc), esp Fratercula arctica ( common or Atlantic puffin ), having a black-and-white plumage and a brightly coloured vertically flattened bill: order Charadriiformes


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Word History and Origins

Origin of puffin1

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English poffoun, poffin, puffon (compare Anglo-Latin poffo, puffo ); origin uncertain

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Word History and Origins

Origin of puffin1

C14: perhaps of Cornish origin

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Example Sentences

For the adventurous, try the reindeer or puffin; for those feeling fishy, go for arctic char or the array of sushi.

You won't keep him long, you know, for Puffin's a man certain of good preferment.

Puffin wore his hair very long indeed, while the whole of his face was clean shaven.

Puffin would write all the letters; and as for the lawsuits, you would win them, and the costs would not come out of your pocket.

The vicar and his wife looked at one another; but they respected Mr. Puffin's prejudices, and ceased to press him.

He had even told Miss Grains that he looked upon Mr. Puffin as a "philanderer," and that "he didn't hold with philanderers."

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pufferypuffin crossing