Part 713

3. A game at cards; poker. [U.S.] Bartlett.

Bluff, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bluffed (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Bluffing.] 1. (Poker) To deter (an opponent) from taking the risk of betting on his hand of cards, as the bluffer does by betting heavily on his own hand although it may be of less value. [U. S.]

2. To frighten or deter from accomplishing a purpose by making a show of confidence in one's strength or resources; as, he bluffed me off. [Colloq.]

Bluff, v. i. To act as in the game of bluff.

Bluff"-bowed` (&?;), a. (Naut.) Built with the stem nearly straight up and down.

Bluff"er, (&?;) n. One who bluffs.

Bluff"-head`ed (&?;), a. (Naut.) Built with the stem nearly straight up and down.

Bluff"ness, n. The quality or state of being bluff.

Bluff"y (&?;), a. 1. Having bluffs, or bold, steep banks.

2. Inclined to bo bluff; brusque.

Blu"ing (&?;), n. 1. The act of rendering blue; as, the bluing of steel. Tomlinson.

2. Something to give a bluish tint, as indigo, or preparations used by washerwomen.

Blu"ish (&?;), a. Somewhat blue; as, bluish veins. "Bluish mists." Dryden. -- Blu"ish*ly, adv. -- Blu"ish*ness, n.

Blun"der (&?;), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Blundered (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Blundering.] [OE. blunderen, blondren, to stir, confuse, blunder; perh. allied to blend to mix, to confound by mixture.] 1. To make a gross error or mistake; as, to blunder in writing or preparing a medical prescription. Swift.

2. To move in an awkward, clumsy manner; to flounder and stumble.

I was never distinguished for address, and have often even blundered in making my bow. Goldsmith.

Yet knows not how to find the uncertain place, And blunders on, and staggers every pace. Dryden.

To blunder on. (a) To continue blundering. (b) To find or reach as if by an accident involving more or less stupidity, -- applied to something desirable; as, to blunder on a useful discovery.

Blun"der, v. t. 1. To cause to blunder. [Obs.] "To blunder an adversary." Ditton.

2. To do or treat in a blundering manner; to confuse.

He blunders and confounds all these together. Stillingfleet.

Blun"der, n. 1. Confusion; disturbance. [Obs.]

2. A gross error or mistake, resulting from carelessness, stupidity, or culpable ignorance.

Syn. -- Blunder, Error, Mistake, Bull. An error is a departure or deviation from that which is right or correct; as, an error of the press; an error of judgment. A mistake is the interchange or taking of one thing for another, through haste, inadvertence, etc.; as, a careless mistake. A blunder is a mistake or error of a gross kind. It supposes a person to flounder on in his course, from carelessness, ignorance, or stupidity. A bull is a verbal blunder containing a laughable incongruity of ideas.

Blun"der*buss (&?;), n. [Either fr. blunder + D. bus tube, box, akin to G. büchse box, gun, E. box; or corrupted fr. D. donderbus (literally) thunder box, gun, musket.] 1. A short gun or firearm, with a large bore, capable of holding a number of balls, and intended to do execution without exact aim.

2. A stupid, blundering fellow.

Blun"der*er (&?;), n. One who is apt to blunder.

Blun"der*head` (&?;), n. [Blunder + head.] A stupid, blundering fellow.