Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web
Nearby Words

poof

 - 5 dictionary results

poof

1[poof, poof]
–interjection
1. (used to express or indicate a sudden disappearance): Poof! The magician made the rabbit disappear.
2. pooh 1 (def. 1).

Origin:
1815–25

poof

2[poof, poof]
–noun British. Slang: Disparaging and Offensive.
1. a male homosexual.
2. an effeminate male.
Also, pooff, pouf, poove.


Origin:
1840–50; < F pouffe pouf 1
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To poof
poof 1   (pōōf)   
interj.  Used to indicate a sudden vanishing: The magician waved a wand, and poof! The birds disappeared!

[Imitative.]
poof 2   (pōōf)   
n.   Offensive Slang
Used as a disparaging term for an effeminate or homosexual male.

[Probably alteration of puff, braggart, homosexual man, from puff (influenced by poof1).]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

poof 
"effeminate man, male homosexual," c.1850, perhaps a corruption of puff. The Australian extended form poofter is attested from 1910.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Search another word or see poof on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us: