fluffyadj.
/ˈflʌfi/, U.S. /ˈfləfi/ 1.
a. Consisting of or resembling fluff; of soft, downy texture.
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the world > matter > constitution of matter > softness > types of softness > [adjective] > soft and fluffy
mossy1561
downy1578
mosy1578
thrummy1597
cotton wool1648
cottonary1658
cottonous1664
cottony1664
tozy1706
flewsey1712
fuzzy1713
furzy1720
floscular1822
fuffy1824
fluffy1825
flossy1845
flocculent1870
furry1876
1825 J. Jamieson Etymol. Dict. Sc. Lang. Suppl. Fluffy, applied to any powdery substance that can be easily put in motion, or blown away; as to ashes, hair-powder, meal &c.
1860 W. M. Thackeray Lovel ii A great hulking Bluecoat boy, with fluffy whiskers.
1863 M. E. Braddon Eleanor's Victory I. v. 106 The fluffy worsted curtains were drawn.
1887 R. N. Carey Uncle Max xiii. 103 [She] buried her face in a very fluffy little muff.
b. Of timber: (see quot. 1888).
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1888 Lockwood's Dict. Mech. Engin. Timber is said to be fluffy when the sawdust is stringy, and moist and greasy instead of granular and sharp.
c. figurative, often with reference to personal character or intellect.
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the mind > mental capacity > lack of understanding > foolishness, folly > giddiness, empty-headedness > [adjective]
idlec825
giddyc1000
volage?a1366
apec1370
foolisha1382
vain1390
idleful1483
volageous1487
glaikit1488
cock-brained1530
apish1532
empty1550
sillyc1555
frivolous?1563
tickle-headed1583
light-braineda1593
frothy1593
owlish1596
bird-witted1605
empty-headed1614
idle-headed1614
empty-pateda1628
marmosetical1630
grollish1637
feather-headed1647
nonsense1647
whirl-crowned1648
feather-brained1649
swimmering1650
soft-pated1651
weather-headeda1652
shuttlecock1660
drum-headed1664
chicken-brained1678
halokit1724
desipient1727
shatter-pated1727
scattered-brained1747
light-thoughted1777
scatter-brained1804
shandy-pated1806
hellicat1815
feather-pated1819
inane1819
weather-brained1826
bubble-headed1827
tomfoolish1838
bird-brained1892
tottle1894
fluffy1898
scatty1911
wandery1912
scattery1924
twitterpated1943
1898 Westm. Gaz. 16 Apr. 1/3 Celia is strong-minded. You would not think so to look at her: she is what I call a fluffy girl.
1904 E. F. Benson Challoners xiv Begin instantly without playing any fluffy arpeggios.
1927 A. P. Herbert Plain Jane 10 I like them fluffy,..With downy soft eyebrows and artful blue eyes,..With fluffy complexions, like plums on a wall, And fluffy opinions, and no brains at all.
1964 Punch 23 Dec. 967/3 His fluffy wife prepared to help him by seducing the boss.
2. Of persons: Covered with fluff. Of plants and animals: Covered with down, soft hairs, feathers, or fur; downy.
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the world > life > the body > hair > types of hair > [adjective] > down
mosya1475
mossy1567
callow down1598
tomentous1657
tomentose1698
pluffy1809
fluffy1848
pilar1860
the world > life > biology > physical aspects or shapes > villosity or ciliation > [adjective] > hairiness > woolly or downy
downy1551
tomentous1657
tomentose1698
lanate1760
velutinous1826
fluffy1848
lanose1852
flocculent1870
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > dirtiness > dirt > dirtiness or soiling with specific kinds of dirt > [adjective] > fluffy
fluffy1848
fluey1861
the world > animals > animal body > general parts > covering or skin > [adjective] > having a coat > hairy, furry, or woolly > having fluff
fluffy1848
1848 C. Dickens Dombey & Son lix. 591 Fluffy and snuffy strangers.
1856 F. E. Paget Owlet of Owlstone Edge 110 That dreary-looking man, with a fluffy effect about his head, as though it were sprinkled with the contents of a pillow.
1862 H. Marryat One Year in Sweden I. 75 The road-side bright with the fluffy blue anemone.
1863 F. A. Kemble Jrnl. Resid. Georgian Plantation 259 These poor little fluffy things [rabbits].
1879 ‘H. Stretton’ Through Needle's Eye I. 145 The fluffy yellow chickens.
3. slang.
Categories »
a. Drunk and incapable (see quot. 1886 at fluffiness n. 1).
b. Theatre. Liable to forget one's lines.
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society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > drama > actor > [adjective] > apt to forget part
fluffy1885
1885 Referee 26 July 3/2 One or two others were..what actors call fluffy in their lines.
1893 Pall Mall Gaz. 17 Jan. 7/2 After the chorus is perfect, the principals are ‘fluffy’, especially when the principals are fashionable amateurs.
4. quasi-n. A fluffy animal.
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the world > animals > mammals > [noun] > parts of > (types of) fur > animals having
fur-bearer1876
fluffy1889
1889 Daily News 23 Oct. 7/1 Strictly smooth haired creatures are at a disadvantage among the fluffies.
Compounds
General attributive.
fluffy-brained adj.
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1905 Author 1 Feb. 150 Has he thrown you over for her, the fluffy-brained thing?
fluffy-minded adj.
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1902 Westm. Gaz. 23 Oct. 3/1 A fluffy-minded woman.
1935 P. G. Wodehouse Blandings Castle i. 12 The ninth Earl of Emsworth was a fluffy-minded and amiable old gentleman with a fondness for new toys.
Draft additions December 2004
fluffy dice n. a pair of large imitation dice made from fluffy, fur-like material, designed to be hung inside a vehicle's windscreen (esp. from the rear-view mirror) or rear window, and sometimes comsidered emblematic of poor taste; also occasionally with singular agreement; cf. furry dice n. at furry adj. and n.1 Additions, fuzzy dice n. at fuzzy adj. Additions.
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1957 Hammond (Indiana) Times 6 Oct. b1/2 A pair of fluffy dice may be decorative, but hanging from a car windshield they can be dangerous as well.
1994 M. Gee Crime Story (1996) iii. 50 He got in close behind one and saw a fluffy dice suspended in the rear window, and a fisted hand with a smoke in it, burning above kissing heads.
2004 Sunday Times (Nexis) 11 July (Driving section) 11 Fluffy dice dangling from the rear-view mirror are commonly considered the last word in naff.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1897; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1825