Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1941 (SND Vol. II). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

BUFF, n.³

1. “Silly talk; irrelevant speech” (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.). Very common in phr. buff an' styte. Known to Bnff.², Abd.⁹, Ags.², Fif.¹⁰, Lnk.³ 1936. Also found in Eng. slang, 1721 (Farmer and Henley).Mry. 1873 J. Brown Round Table Club 28:
Nae tae be mealie-moo'd wi' ye, Captain, that's jist doon richt buff — havers, ilka word o' 't.Abd. after 1768 A. Ross Fortunate Shepherd MS. Intro. p. 4:
When last my pen ye favour'd with a Puff I ran no likely risk of speaking buff.Abd. 1877 G. Macdonald M. of Lossie I. xv.:
“What put sic buff an' styte i' yer heid, sir?” rejoined Meg.Edb. 1915 T. W. Paterson Auld Saws 10:
Folks may lauch; but never heed them, Claiv'rin silly buff.

2. Phr. a' buff owre muckle, far too much; also a' buff and nonsense — (Mry.² 1937).Abd. 1903 Rural Talk in Abd. Wkly. Free Press (8 Aug.):
There's a' buff owre muckle said aboot th' butter.