cuff

1 of 4

noun (1)

1
: something (such as a part of a sleeve or glove) encircling the wrist
2
: the turned-back hem of a trouser leg
3
a
: handcuff
usually used in plural
b
: a usually wide metal band worn as a bracelet
4
: an inflatable band that is wrapped around an extremity to control the flow of blood through the part when recording blood pressure with a sphygmomanometer
cuffless adjective

cuff

2 of 4

verb (1)

cuffed; cuffing; cuffs

transitive verb

1
: to furnish with a cuff
2

cuff

3 of 4

verb (2)

cuffed; cuffing; cuffs

transitive verb

: to strike especially with or as if with the palm of the hand : buffet

cuff

4 of 4

noun (2)

: a blow with the hand especially when open : slap
Phrases
off the cuff
: without preparation : ad lib
speaking off the cuff
on the cuff
: on credit
transacting business on the cuff

Examples of cuff in a Sentence

Noun (1) the mama cat would give her kittens a cuff with a paw whenever they played too rough Noun (2) the policeman snapped the cuffs on and led the prisoner away to the car
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The simple elastic cuff makes these mittens easy to pull on and off, while keeping cold air from sneaking inside. Lisa Jhung, Outside Online, 15 Nov. 2024 Apply pressure to a hidden button, and a piece of the cuff lifts off, revealing a tiny diamond-face watch within. Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 2 Nov. 2024
Verb
The 6-foot cedar sculpture shows a female figure with her head facing the sky and her wrists cuffed behind her. Shameekia Shantel Johnson, ARTnews.com, 4 Nov. 2024 Bourgeois strands of pearls got a modern update via XXL gold or silver spheres in triple chokers while solitaire rings and wedding bands doubled up as ear cuffs. Sandra Salibian, WWD, 3 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for cuff 

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English coffe, cuffe mitten

Verb (2)

perhaps from obsolete English, glove, from Middle English

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1522, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (1)

1693, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

1530, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Noun (2)

1570, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cuff was in 1522

Dictionary Entries Near cuff

Cite this Entry

“Cuff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cuff. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

cuff

1 of 3 noun
1
: a part of a sleeve or glove that goes around the wrist
2
: the turned-back hem of a trouser leg
3
: a band that is capable of being inflated and is wrapped around an arm or leg to control the flow of blood through the part when measuring blood pressure

cuff

2 of 3 verb
: to strike with or as if with the palm of the hand

cuff

3 of 3 noun
: a blow with the hand especially when open : slap

Medical Definition

cuff

noun
1
: an inflatable band that is wrapped around an extremity to control the flow of blood through the part when recording blood pressure with a sphygmomanometer
2
: an anatomical structure shaped like a cuff
especially : rotator cuff
repair of complete shoulder cuff avulsion Physicians' Current Procedural Terminology

More from Merriam-Webster on cuff

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!