Huffs

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /hʌfs/

Definitions

1. To make puffing sounds as a result of exertion
2. To exhale forcefully, often in a rhythmic manner due to fatigue or effort
3. To emit short bursts of breath that may indicate annoyance or impatience

Etymology: "Huffs" is the third-person singular present form of "huff," so it simply shows someone or something breathing out forcefully. The verb "huff" is probably an altered spelling of an earlier form, "hough," which is represented by the Scots "hech," meaning to breathe hard or pant. A German parallel, "hauchen," meaning to breathe, suggests a common ancestry in the sense of a puff of breath. The sense of forceful breath gave rise to the familiar idea of taking offence: a person who "huffs" expresses displeasure by exhaling loudly, sometimes while storming off. Both senses are reflected in the phrase "in a huff," meaning in a fit of annoyance.

Synonyms: puffs, blows, exhales, snorts, sighs