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huff

(hŭf)

A fit of anger or annoyance; a pique: stormed off in a huff.

v. huffed, huff·ing, huffs

v.intr.

1. To puff; blow.

2. To make noisy, empty threats; bluster.

3. To react indignantly; take offense.

4. Slang To inhale the fumes of a volatile chemical or substance as a means of becoming intoxicated.

v.tr.

1. To cause to puff up; inflate.

2. To treat with insolence; bully.

3. To anger; annoy.

4. Slang To inhale the fumes of (a volatile chemical, for example) as a means of becoming intoxicated.

[Imitative of the sound of puffing.]

huffer n.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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