† ˈbuffon, -ont Obs.
Also -oon.
[a. F. bouffante ‘espèce de guimpe gaufrée que portaient autrefois les femmes’ (Littré). See bouffante a.]
‘A projecting covering of gauze or linen for a lady's breast.. much worn about 1750’ (Fairholt).
| 1774 Westm. Mag. II. 259 Ladies in full dress still wear..buffoons for the neck. Ibid. 288 Plaited tuckers and buffons for the neck. 1783 European Mag. III. 15 Buffonts, trimmed and plain, are in universal use still. |