Part 887

Stuff, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Stuffed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Stuffing.] [OE. stoffen; cf. OF. estoffer, F. étoffer, to put stuff in, to stuff, to line, also, OF. estouffer to stifle, F. étouffer; both perhaps of Teutonic origin, and akin to E. stop. Cf. Stop, v. t., Stuff, n.] 1. To fill by crowding something into; to cram with something; to load to excess; as, to stuff a bedtick.

Sometimes this crook drew hazel bought adown, And stuffed her apron wide with nuts so brown.

Gay.

Lest the gods, for sin, Should with a swelling dropsy stuff thy skin.

Dryden.

2. To thrust or crowd; to press; to pack.

Put roses into a glass with a narrow mouth, stuffing them close together . . . and they retain smell and color.

Bacon.

3. To fill by being pressed or packed into.

With inward arms the dire machine they load, And iron bowels stuff the dark abode.

Dryden.

4. (Cookery) To fill with a seasoning composition of bread, meat, condiments, etc.; as, to stuff a turkey.

5. To obstruct, as any of the organs; to affect with some obstruction in the organs of sense or respiration.

I'm stuffed, cousin; I can not smell.

Shak.

6. To fill the skin of, for the purpose of preserving as a specimen; -- said of birds or other animals.

7. To form or fashion by packing with the necessary material.

An Eastern king put a judge to death for an iniquitous sentence, and ordered his hide to be stuffed into a cushion, and placed upon the tribunal.

Swift.

8. To crowd with facts; to cram the mind of; sometimes, to crowd or fill with false or idle tales or fancies.

9. To put fraudulent votes into (a ballot box). [U. S.]

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Stuff (?), v. i. To feed gluttonously; to cram.

Taught harmless man to cram and stuff.

Swift.

Stuff"er (?), n. One who, or that which, stuffs.

Stuff"i*ness (?), n. The quality of being stuffy.

Stuff"ing, n. 1. That which is used for filling anything; as, the stuffing of a saddle or cushion.