bluff
- bluff
{{11}}bluff (n.) "broad, vertical cliff," 1680s, from bluff (adj.) "with a broad, flat front" (1620s), a sailors' word, probably from Du. blaf "flat, broad." Apparently a North Sea nautical term for ships with flat vertical bows, later extended to landscape features.
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bluff (
v.) 1839,
Amer.Eng., poker term, perhaps from
Du. bluffen "
to brag, boast," or
verbluffen "
to baffle, mislead." An identical word meant "
blindfold, hoodwink" in 1670s, but the sense evolution and connection are unclear;
OED calls it "
one of the numerous cant terms ... which arose between the Restoration and the reign of Queen Anne." Extended or figurative sense by 1854. Related:
Bluffed;
BLUFFING (
Cf. bluffing). As a noun, by 1844 as an alternative name for
poker; as "
an act of bluffing" by 1864.
Etymology dictionary.
2014.
:
Look at other dictionaries:
bluff — bluff … Dictionnaire des rimes
bluff n — bluff v … English expressions
bluff — [ blɶf ] n. m. • 1840; mot angl. amér. 1 ♦ Aux cartes, Attitude destinée à impressionner l adversaire en lui faisant illusion. 2 ♦ (1895) Attitude destinée à en faire accroire, à intimider l adversaire sans en avoir les moyens. ⇒ mensonge,… … Encyclopédie Universelle
Bluff — may refer to: * an expression of self confidence, an empty boastGeography* a very steep and broad hill or small cliff, frequently next to a river or ocean;United States places * Bluffs, Illinois, a village * Bluffs, Indiana, an unincorporated… … Wikipedia
Bluff — Bluff, a. [Cf. OD. blaf flat, broad, blaffaert one with a broad face, also, a boaster; or G. verbl[ u]ffen to confuse, LG. bluffen to frighten; to unknown origin.] 1. Having a broad, flattened front; as, the bluff bows of a ship. Bluff visages.… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
bluff — adj Bluff, blunt, brusque, curt, crusty, gruff mean abrupt and unceremonious in speech or manner. Bluff, the only term of the group used in a complimentary sense, connotes outspokenness, rough good nature, and unconventionally which bespeak a… … New Dictionary of Synonyms
bluff — Ⅰ. bluff [1] ► NOUN ▪ an attempt to deceive someone into believing that one can or will do something. ► VERB ▪ try to deceive someone as to one s abilities or intentions. ● call someone s bluff Cf. ↑call someone s bluff … English terms dictionary
Bluff — Bluff, n. 1. A high, steep bank, as by a river or the sea, or beside a ravine or plain; a cliff with a broad face. [1913 Webster] Beach, bluff, and wave, adieu. Whittier. [1913 Webster] 2. An act of bluffing; an expression of self confidence for… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
bluff — s.m.inv. 1. TS giochi in alcuni giochi di carte, spec. nel poker, tattica con cui si cerca di indurre gli avversari a ritirarsi dal gioco facendo credere di avere un gioco superiore a quello effettivo 2. CO estens., il far credere qcs. più… … Dizionario italiano
Bluff — [bluf, blœf] Sm Täuschung erw. fremd. Erkennbar fremd (20. Jh.) Entlehnung. Entlehnt aus ne. bluff, dessen Herkunft nicht zweifelsfrei geklärt ist. Ausgangspunkt für die Entlehnung ist wohl das Kartenspiel Poker, bei dem der Bluff zur Spielpraxis … Etymologisches Wörterbuch der deutschen sprache
Bluff — Bluff: Bluff общепринятое сокращение (обозначение) имени ботаника, которое добавляется к научным (латинским) названиям некоторых таксонов ботанической (бинарной) номенклатуры и указывает на то, что автором этих наименований является… … Википедия
