Buffed

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /bʌft/

Definitions

1. Made smooth and shiny by rubbing ; made better or improved in quality or appearance ; having a strong, muscular physique
2. Smoothed to a glossy finish by friction ; enhanced in performance, condition, or appearance ; physically fit and well-muscled
3. Refined through polishing to remove imperfections ; upgraded or strengthened in capability ; characterized by a well-developed muscular build

Etymology: "Buff" was first the name of a soft, pale leather, made from the hide of the buffalo. Because the leather was supple and rough-textured, craftsmen used it as a pad, and rubbing metal or wood against it produced a glossy finish. That polishing sense is where the adjective begins: a surface made smooth and bright by buffing. English took "buffalo" from Italian "bufalo", which came from Latin "bufalus". The Latin word was borrowed from Greek "boubalos", a term for a wild ox or antelope. The pale yellowish colour of the leather also gave English "buff" as a name for a shade. The sense of a well-developed physique likely grew from the polishing idea. A body that looks gleaming and sculpted seems to have been worked over, as a surface is buffed to a shine. The exact path from polish to muscle is less documented, so that link is an informed inference rather than a recorded step.

Synonyms: polished, shined

Antonyms: dull