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You are here: Home / Language / Where Did the Term “Buff” Come From and What Does it Mean?

Where Did the Term “Buff” Come From and What Does it Mean?

July 17, 2020 by Karen Hill

A buff is someone with a keen interest in a subject that is not related to his or her profession.

The term was coined by New York firemen, who were often hindered by crowds who gathered at fires either to help or stand around and criticize.

At the time, around 1900, most winter coats worn by the spectators were made of buffalo hide, and from those the firemen came up with the derogatory term “buffs” to describe those pesky amateur critics.

An enthusiastic amateur is often referred to as a “buff”.

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Filed Under: Language

About Karen Hill

Karen Hill is a freelance writer, editor, and columnist. Born in New York, her work has appeared in the Examiner, Yahoo News, Buzzfeed, among others.

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