† huff-snuff, n. (a.) Obs.
[f. huff v. + snuff, in the sense ‘offence, resentment’; but largely suggested by the riming of the two words, as in reduplicated formations: see huff v.]
A conceited fellow who gives himself airs and is quick to take offence; a braggart, hector.
| 1583 Stanyhurst æneis etc. (Arb.) 143 A loftye Thrasonical huf snuffe: In gate al on typstau's stalcking. 1591 Greene Disc. Coosnage (1859) 43 Seeing such a terrible huffe snuffe swering with his dagger in his hand. 1598 Florio, Risentito,..a huffe snuffe, one that will soone take pepper in the nose. 1611 Cotgr. s.v. Ferré, Mangeur de charrettes ferrées, a terrible huffsnuffe, scarre-crow, braggadochio. 1653 Urquhart Rabelais ii. ii. 12 Part of the Heavens, which the Philosophers call via lactea, and the Huffsnuffs, St. James his way. |
b. attrib. or adj. Arrogant, hectoring, vapouring.
| a 1693 Urquhart Rabelais iii. xlii. 349 The huff, snuff, honder-sponder, swash-buckling High Germans. |