Part 1224

<i>Southey.</i>

<h1>Bluff</h1> <Xpage=159>

<hw>Bluff</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[Cf. OD. <ets>blaf</ets> flat, broad, <ets>blaffaert</ets> one with a broad face, also, a boaster; or G. <ets>verbl\'81ffen</ets> to confuse, LG. <ets>bluffen</ets> to frighten; to unknown origin.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>Having a broad, flattened front; <as>as, the <ex>bluff</ex> bows of a ship</as>.</def> "<i>Bluff</i> visages."

<i>Irving.</i>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Rising steeply with a flat or rounded front.</def> "A <i>bluff</i> or bold shore."

<i>Falconer.</i>

<blockquote>Its banks, if not really steep, had a <b>bluff</b> and precipitous aspect. <i>Judd.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>Surly; churlish; gruff; rough.</def>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>Abrupt; roughly frank; unceremonious; blunt; brusque; <as>as, a <ex>bluff</ex> answer; a <ex>bluff</ex> manner of talking; a <ex>bluff</ex> sea captain.</as></def> "<i>Bluff</i> King Hal."

<i>Sir W. Scott.</i>

<blockquote>There is indeed a <b>bluff</b> pertinacity which is a proper defense in a moment of surprise. <i>I. Taylor.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Bluff</h1> <Xpage=159>

<hw>Bluff</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <p><b>1.</b> <def>A high, steep bank, as by a river or the sea, or beside a ravine or plain; a cliff with a broad face.</def>

<blockquote>Beach, <b>bluff</b>, and wave, adieu. <i>Whittier.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>An act of bluffing; an expression of self-confidence for the purpose of intimidation; braggadocio; <as>as, that is only <ex>bluff</ex>, or a <ex>bluff</ex></as>.</def>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>A game at cards; poker.</def> <mark>[U.S.]</mark>

<i>Bartlett.</i>

<h1>Bluff</h1> <Xpage=159>

<hw>Bluff</hw>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p. p.</tt> <er>Bluffed</er> <tt>(#)</tt>; <tt>p. pr. & vb. n.</tt> <er>Bluffing</er>.]</wordforms> <p><b>1.</b> <fld>(Poker)</fld> <def>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.</def> <mark>[U. S.]</mark>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To frighten or deter from accomplishing a purpose by making a show of confidence in one's strength or resources; <as>as, he <ex>bluffed</ex> me off</as>.</def> <mark>[Colloq.]</mark>

<h1>Bluff</h1> <Xpage=159>

<hw>Bluff</hw>, <tt>v. i.</tt> <def>To act as in the game of bluff.</def>

<h1>Bluff-bowed</h1> <Xpage=159>

<hw>Bluff"-bowed`</hw> <tt>(<?/)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <fld>(Naut.)</fld> <def>Built with the stem nearly straight up and down.</def>

<h1>Bluffer</h1> <Xpage=159>

<hw>Bluff"er</hw>, <tt>(<?/)</tt> <tt>n.</tt> <def>One who bluffs.</def>

<h1>Bluff-headed</h1> <Xpage=159>

<hw>Bluff"-head`ed</hw> <tt>(<?/)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <fld>(Naut.)</fld> <def>Built with the stem nearly straight up and down.</def>