† Muff, n.1 Obs.
Also 6–7 muffe.
[a. Du. mof, a contemptuous appellation for a Westphalian.]
A depreciative term for a German or Swiss; sometimes loosely applied to other foreigners.
| 1590 Marlowe 2nd Pt. Tamburl. i. i, King Sigismond hath brought from Christendome More then his Camp of stout Hungarians, Sclauonians, Almans, Rutters, Muffes, and Danes. 1592 Warner Alb. Eng. vii. xxxv. 151 Those Stiles to him weare strange, but thay Did feofe them on the bace-borne Muffe [sc. Warbeck] and him as King obay. 1596 Lodge Wits Miserie 35 The Italian ruffe, the French doublet, the Muffes cloak, the Toledo rapier [etc.]. 1598 E. Guilpin Skial. (1878) 57 Is he not a Sargeant? then say's a muffe For his furr'd sattin cloak. 1598 Florio, Stiticozzi, swearing or swaggring muffs or dutchmen. a 1639 Sir J. Reresby Mem. & Trav. (1904) 135 The Low Dutch call the High, muffes, that is étourdi, as the French have it, or blockheads. 1649 W. M. Wandering Jew (1857) 61 Shop-keepers..(like a guard of Muffes) every morning wait at their doores to get their money. 1656 Sir J. Finett For. Ambass. 38 An Ambassador (with his assistant Commissioner Chancellour of Muscovey)..was..received at Tower Wharfe... The Kings Coach, and five or six others tooke them in at Tower Wharfe, but with such disorder..as without my care,..some must of the better sort of Muffes have walked on foote to their Lodgings. |