Forms: 4–5 stof, 5–6 stoffe, 4–7 stuffe, 5–6 stuf, 5–8 stufe, (6 stoufe), 4– stuff. [ME. stoffe, stof, a. OF. estoffe fem., material, furniture, provision (mod.F. étoffe material, stuff, esp. textile material) = Pr., Sp., Pg. estofa, cloth, quality, It. stoffa piece of rich textile fabric. From the OF. word are med.L. estoffa, stoffa, Du. stoffe, stof fem., G. stoff masc., matter, stuff, whence Sw. stoff, Da. stof neut.
The ultimate etymology is obscure. Diez conjectured that the Rom. stoffa and the related vb. stoffare (STUFF v.) are derived from the OHG. *stopfôn (MHG., mod.G. stopfen) to plug with oakum, which (as explained s.v. STOP v.) represents a WGer. adoption of med.L. stuppāre to plug, stop up, f. stuppa tow, oakum. This is open to strong objections: the likelihood of a specifically HG. etymon for a Com. Rom. word is questionable, and the original sense of the Rom. verb appears to be, not ‘to plug or stop up,’ but ‘to garnish or store with something.’ Whether the sb. is the source of the verb, or derived from it, is uncertain; the masc. form in It. stoffo, Pg. estofo quilted material, is undoubtedly a verbal noun.]
I. 1. Equipment, stores, stock.
† a. A body of soldiers; a garrison; an auxiliary force, reinforcement. Also stuff of people. Obs.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, V. 258. Now takis Iames his viage … Vith twa ȝhomen,… That ves a sympill stuff to ta, A land or castell for to vyn!
1412–20. Lydg., Troy-bk., IV. 2119. Whanne he sawe his Grekis gonne faille And wexe feble to stonden in bataille For lak of stuf þat shulde hem recounforte.
c. 1425. Wyntoun, Cron., I. 124. Befor it set wes Cherubin, Þat mai be vnderstandin richt A stuf of angellis blith and bricht.
1430–40. Lydg., Bochas, II. xiv. (1554), 53 b. Up he rose and gan hymselfe tauance No stuffe about him but sergeauntes riotous.
1442. Roos & Bekynton, in B’s. Corr. (Rolls), II. 213. Yf any stuf or pouaire of Englissh pouple had be there.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, VI. 693. The ij captans sone mett thaim at Beggair, With the haill stuff of Roxburch and Berweike.
† b. In ME. poetry, the quilted material worn under the mail, or itself serving in place of armor. In later use: Defensive armor. Obs.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace, 10031. Vaumbras & rerbras, wyþ coters of stel, Þer-opon an aketon wyþ stof & al sylk [Fr. Hauberc et bon et bel vestu], His cote of armes þer-on.
13[?]. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 581. & syþen þe brawden bryne of bryȝt stel ryngez, Vmbe-weued þat wyȝ, vpon wlonk stuffe.
a. 1400–50. Wars Alex., 2980*. Some arays þaim in rynggez some in rawe brenys, Some in stalwart stuffe & some in stele plates.
c. 1420. Anturs of Arth., xlv. He … Thro the wast of the body wowundet him ille; The squrd styntet for no stuffe, he was so wele stelet.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, IV. 563. With ire him straik on his gorgeat off steill, The trensand blaid to persyt euirydeill. Throu plaitt and stuff, mycht nocht agayn it stand.
c. 1470. Golagros & Gaw., 981. He … Hakkit throw the hard weid, to the hede hynt; Throw the stuf with the straik … He hewit attanis.
1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot. (Rolls), II. 130. Thir wicht men weildit thair waponis so weill, That euerie straik out-throw thair stuf of steill Thay gart the blude brist out.
† c. The materials, stores or supplies belonging to an army; munitions of war; more definitely stuffs of war. Obs.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, XVII. 176. Wittaill thai fand in gret fusioune, And all that fell till stuff of toune.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 481/1. Stuffe, or stuffure, staurum.
c. 1450. Brut, II. 428. He ordeynyd hym a newe retenewe of men of armys and archeris, with alle maner of othir stuffis that bylongid therto.
a. 1466. Gregory, Chron., in Hist. Coll. Cit. Lond. (Camden), 161. And he toke alle hyr ordynauns of gonnys and alle hyr vytayle, with alle the othyr stoffe that was at the sege, that is to saye, xiiij gonnys,… and ij C pypys of brede and floure,… and othyr stuffe of pavys and tentys.
a. 1500. Bale’s Chron., in Six Town Chron. (1911), 116. Item this yere the duke of Somerset wt a grete power ordenance and stuff moustred at portesmouth diverse tymes. Ibid., 152. Wt greet ordenannce of Gonnes and other stuffs of werre.
† d. The baggage of a soldier or an army; later gen. baggage, luggage. Obs.
a. 1400[?]. Morte Arth., 735. Thus they stowe ine the stuffe of fulle steryne knyghtez.
1530. Palsgr., 277/2. Stuffe caryage, aport, seruage.… Stuffe that is in a fardell, fardage.
1535. Coverdale, 1 Sam. xxx. 24. Like as the porcion is of them that wente downe to the battayll, so shal ye porcion be of them also that abode with the stuffe.
1590. Shaks., Com. Err., IV. iv. 153. Come to the Centaur, fetch our stuffe from thence.
a. 1625. Fletcher, Noble Gent., II. i. I see my folly, Pack up my stuffe, I will away this morne.
1653. H. Cogan, trans. Pinto’s Trav., i. 2. There I found a Carvel of Alfama, that was laden with the horses and stuff [Pg. cavallos e fato] of a Lord.
e. Stock or provision of food. Obs. exc. Sc. Cf. 6 c.
More definitely † stuff of victual. † Lent(en stuff: fish procured as a provision for Lent.
1436. Hen. VI., in Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., Var. Coll. (1907), IV. 199. We … have notable purveyd for the defense and kepynge of hem, as well in sufficiaunce of nombre of men and in stuff of vitaille, artillerie and alle manere abillemens of werre as otherwyse.
c. 1506. Plumpton Corr. (Camden), 198. And your Lenten stoufe is to bey, & I wote not what to do.
1535. Sc. Acts Jas. V. (1814), II. 347/1. Þat Nane forstallaris be fundin byand vittalis fische flesche or vþer stuff or þe samin be presentit to þe mercat … vnder þe pane of presonyng of þare personis.
1580. Tusser, Husb. (1878), 126. Take shipping or ride, Lent stuffe to prouide.
1596. Harington, Metam. Ajax, Prol. B 5 b. Lo stuffe for you good store, To gnaw, chew, bite and eate.
a. 1700. Evelyn, Diary, 23 April 1667. Then was the banquetting stuff flung about the roome profusely.
1870. J. Nicholson, Idylls o’ Hame, 113. O’ Ne’rday stuffs we’re weel laid in, A sonsy cheese, jist like the mune, Wi’ crumpy cakes.
f. Provision of corn; in full † stuff of corn; hence corn or grain in any state (see quot. 1825–82). Obs. exc. Sc.
1461–2. Cal. Anc. Rec. Dublin (1889), 311. Wher they fyndyth any maner of stof of corn grosyt, they to arest and take up all such stof.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, III. 220. Quhen this was doyne, to thar dyner thai went, Off stuff and wyne.
1596. Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot., I. 6. In all kynde of stuffe, and cattell it abundes.
1635. D. Dickson, Sel. Writ. (1845), I. 94. He were an evil-skilled husbandman who should take a whole bing of stuff to be chaff, because there is much chaff in it.
1786. Burns, Halloween, xv. The Simmer had been cauld an’ wat, An’ Stuff was unco green.
1825–82. Jamieson, Stuff. It denotes grain in whatever state; whether as growing, cut down, in the barn, or in the mill.
g. Property, esp. movable property, household goods or utensils; furniture; more definitely stuff of money, stuff of household. Obs. exc. in HOUSEHOLD-STUFF arch.
1438. E. E. Wills (1882), 111. Item to my wyf, all my stuff beyng at the Fasterne. Ibid. (1439), 126. All his other godes and stuffes meveable that he leveth vnto hem.
c. 1442–55. Dk. Buckingham, in Paston Lett., I. 61. In gode faith, brother,… I have but easy stuffe of money withinne me,… so that I may not plese youre seid gode brotherhode.
1464. Inv., in Turner’s Dom. Archit. (1859), III. iv. 113. A grete red standerd full of stuff, locked with 2 lockes.
c. 1490. Caxton, Rule St. Benet, 136. Suche stuff that he hath not yeuen before to folke þat ben poore or other wyse, openly shall he thenne yeue to the monestary.
1501. Bury Wills (Camden), 84. I bequethe to Margarett my wyff all my stuff of houshold.
1538. in Archæologia, XLIII. 210. Certeyne guddes or stuffe appertaynyng to the seid Monastery remayneth unsolde.
1596. H. Clapham, Briefe Bible, I. 65. Joshuah giving in charge that no man take any execrable stuffe of Iericho.
1621. Burton, Anat. Mel., II. iii. III. 399. A poore man … eates his meat in wooden spoones, wooden platters, earthen Vessels, and such homely stuffe.
1635–56. Cowley, Davideis, III. 220. Some lead the groaning waggons, loaded high, With stuff, on top of which the Maidens ly.
1646. Bury Wills (Camden), 193. She shall not … haue the vse of any of the goods, stuffe of houshold, chattells, personall estate, or thinges by me herein given to her.
† h. The furnishing proper to a place or thing; appurtenances, apparatus. Obs.
1406. Hoccleve, La Male Regle, 349. My thank is qweynt, my purs his stuf hath lore.
1427–9. Wills & Inv. N. C. (Surtees), II. 75. And I wyl yat ye stuffe of alle myn howses of offices as kychyn panetre and buttre … remayne to my son.
1523–34. Fitzherb., Husb. (1882), 14. A carte made of asshe,… and lyke stuffe to it as is to a wayne.
1530. Palsgr., 277/2. Stuffe for a bedde, acoustrement de lit.
1538. Elyot, Dict., Choragium, stuffe, proprely wherwith that place is adorned, where as shall be enterludes or disguysynges.
1596. Shaks., Tam. Shr., IV. iii. 87. Oh mercie God, what masking stuffe is heere? What’s this? a sleeue?
1679–88. Secr. Serv. Money Chas. & Jas. (Camden), 160. To Francis Duddell … for sevll provisions for church stuff for the chappel at Dublin, 267li. 4s. 10d.
1688. Wood, Life, 26 Nov. (O. H. S.), III. 285. Common report that lord Delamere, who was about Northampton burning all popish chapel stuffs,… would be at Oxon next day.
† i. Cookery. Materials for filling a pie or for stuffing. Obs.
c. 1420. Liber Cocorum (1862), 51. For a pye … Þy stuffe of fressh befe mynse þou schalle … Þen lay þy capon in coffyn fyne.
c. 1450. Two Cookery Bks., II. 76. Make faire rownde cofyns,… fil hem full of the stuffe, and sette hem ayen in the oven.
1533. J. Heywood, Johan, A iii. We made a pye … The preest payde for the stuffe and the makyng.
1591. A. W., Bk. Cookrye, 7. Then mingle all your stuf togither, and put it in your Rabets belly.
1598. Epulario, I j. Take Marchpane stuffe … prepare the paste … then fill it with the stuffe.
j. Stock-in-trade. Obs. exc. north.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 118 b. There is not so lytle a corner any where, that they [sc. merchants] have not fylled full of theyr stuffe.
1630. Bp. Hall, Occas. Medit., xxx. (1633), 75. Each [street seller] tels what he hath,… and yet (God wot) it is but poore stuffe that they set out, with so much ostentation.
1868. Atkinson, Cleveland Gloss., s.v., ‘He’s a deal o’ stuff on hand, noo,’ a very large stock in trade.
II. That of which something is or may be made; material.
2. Material to work with or upon; substance to be wrought, matter of composition.
c. 1440. Pallad. on Husb., I. 392. Of suche a stufe as esy is to fynde Is best … to bilde.
1474. Caxton, Chesse, III. v. (1883), 126. They that ben acustomed to make oynements they ought to make hyt proprely of true stuf and of good odoure.
1522. Extracts Burgh Rec. Stirling (1887), 17. And that tha [sc. the candles] be gud and sufficient stoufe. Ibid. (1524), 19. Johen Allan, talyour, was in amerciament for the occupyin of the furruris in furring of ane goune with new stoufe.
1585. Higins, Junius’ Nomencl., 347/2. Fistula,… a pipe: a flute, whether it be of reede or other stuffe.
1594. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., I. iii. § 3. Let Phidias haue rude & obstinate stuffe to carue,… his worke will lacke that bewtie which otherwise in fitter matter it might haue had.
1621. Donne, Serm., xv. (1640), 147. In all the Potters house, is there one vessell made of better stuffe then clay?
1693. Evelyn, De la Quint. Gard., Cult. Orange Trees, 9. A Shovel-full of Stuff [F. matière] is thrown from each of the two or three separated Heaps [of ingredients for a compost].
1764. Burn, Poor Laws, 217. Hemp, wool, flax, or other stuff wrought, shall be sold … either at some market or other place.
b. collect. Materials or requisites for a piece of work; esp. building materials.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 283. Now ordant was althing [sc. for the building of a ship] onestly þere, And abundantly broght þat hom bild might, With all stuff for þe stremes.
1442. Rolls of Parlt., V. 44/1. The makers of the seid new Brigge, to have free entry and issue, with their Tymbre, cariage, and othir stuffe.
1473–4. Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot., I. 68. For a leueray colare … gevin to him … price of the colare, stuf and werkmanschip, xj li. viij s. iiij d.
1482. in Eng. Hist. Rev. (1910), XXV. 122. We fyndyng allemaner of stoffe as Bordes, Couerynges, Curreys, hookes, or Claspes, glewe, and flowre for paaste [for binding the books].
c. 1489. Caxton, Sonnes of Aymon, vi. 149. Whan all his stuff was redy, he made theym to buylde there a strong castell.
c. 1550. in Turner’s Dom. Archit. (1859), III. iii. 79. Vc. marc or more to pay wekely pouer workemen, laborers stuff and cariage.
a. 1568. Ascham, Scholem., Pref. (Arb.), 21. A small cotage, poore for the stuffe, and rude for the workemanship.
1630. R. N., Camden’s Eliz., II. 106. The Queene by Proclamation prohibited any new dwelling houses to be built,… vpon paine of imprisonment, and losse of the stuffe brought for the building.
1885. P. J. Davies, Pract. Plumbing, II. 801. Stuff, in plumbing, the lead and materials, such as is the stuff on the job.
† c. A manufactured material. Cf. sense 5. Obs.
1555. W. Watreman, Fardle Facions, I. v. 52. Thei did weare … shoes of a certeine kinde of russhes, named Papyrus, whiche after became stuffe, to geue name to our paper.
a. 1626. Bacon, New Atlantis, 38. Wee haue also diuerse Mechanicall Arts, which you haue not; And Stuffes made by them; As Papers, Linnen, Silks, Tissues; dainty Works of Feathers of wonderfull Lustre; excellent Dies, and many others.
3. transf. and fig. a. The substance or ‘material’ (whether corporeal or incorporeal) of which a thing is formed or consists, or out of which a thing may be fashioned.
1587. Golding, De Mornay (1592), 127. God for the creating of the world needed neither stuffe nor newe advisement.
1604. Shaks., Oth., I. ii. 2. Yet do I hold it very stuffe o’ th’ conscience To do no contriu’d Murder. Ibid. (1610), Temp., IV. i. 156. We are such stuffe As dreames are made on. Ibid. (1611), Cymb., V. iv. 49. Great Nature like his Ancestrie, moulded the stuffe so faire: That he’d seru’d the praise o’th’World.
1612. Two Noble K., III. i. 49. Not finding in The circuit of my breast any grosse stuffe To forme me like your blazon.
1621. Donne, Serm., xv. (1640), 144. As soone as my soule enters into Heaven, I shall be able to say to the Angels, I am of the same stuffe as you, spirit, and spirit.
1648. Bp. Hall, Breath. Devout Soul, xlviii. 81. When I look back upon the stuffe whereof it [my body] is made, no better then that I tread upon … I have much adoe to hold good terms with so unequall a partner.
1709. T. Robinson, Vind. Mosaick Syst., 14. The Platonick Hypothesis … is to make God an Impotent Cause, not able to make this world without Matter and Stuff to work on.
1785. Burke, Sp. Nabob Arcot’s Debts, Wks. 1792, II. 502. The debt of the company from the rajah of Tanjore, is just of the same stuff with that of the nabob of Arcot.
1896. A. E. Housman, Shropshire Lad, xxxii. From far … The stuff of life to knit me Blew hither: here am I.
1900. H. Macpherson, Herbert Spencer, v. 68. Now, in tracing the Universe, science can get no further back than the nebula, or world-stuff.
1914. A. F. Giles, Rom. Civiliz., i. 7. We have to realize that human nature, which is the stuff of history, is much the same in all ages.
b. What a person is ‘made of’; one’s capabilities or inward character. Also, solid qualities of intellect or character; capacity for achievement or endurance; the ‘makings’ of future excellence.
1557. Edgeworth, Serm., 305 b. He is a proud man he swelleth in the flesh and is not ful, but as a thing blowen vp and readie to burst, and yet is there no sure and permanent stuffe within him.
1597. Morley, Introd. Mus., 120. He is a proper man, but he is no descanter … there is no stuffe in him.
1601. Shaks., Jul. C., III. ii. 97. When that the poore haue cry’de, Cæsar hath wept: Ambition should be made of sterner stuffe. Ibid. (1613), Hen. VIII., I. i. 58. Surely Sir, There’s in him stuffe, that put’s him to these ends.
1785. Cowper, Task, IV. 636. Unapt to learn, and form’d of stubborn stuff, He yet by slow degrees puts off himself.
1792. R. Cumberland, Calvary, v. 304. Is thy frail memory of that slippery stuff That a friend’s sorrow washes out all trace Of a friend’s features?
1820. Byron, Morg. Maggiore, xxiv. For late there have appear’d three giants rough; What nation or what kingdom bore the batch I know not, but they are all of savage stuff.
1822. Hazlitt, Table-t., Ser. II. ix. 212. There is stuff in him, and it is of the right practicable sort.
1853. Lytton, My Novel, X. xxiv. Yet Frank Hazeldean has stull in him—a good heart, and strict honour.
1858. Hawthorne, Fr. & It. Note-Bks., I. 224. He was not naturally of the stuff that martyrs are made of.
1862. Baily’s Mag., May, 311. He [an oarsman] looks remarkably well, and is made of stuff to stand training. Ibid., Dec., 313. There is some good bowling stuff in him [sc. a cricketer].
1879. Times, 14 June, 12/1. The Marquis … has some of the stuff of a man in him, in spite of his self-indulgence and his follies.
c. Predicatively, with epithet, of a person or a horse.
1553. Respublica, I. iv. 376. Els will some of youe make good hanging stuff one daie.
1808. Jamieson, s.v., It is said of one, who will not yield in reasoning, or in fighting, ‘He is good stuff, or, a piece of good stuff.’
1830. Marryat, King’s Own, iv. He is real stuff—never winced.
1858. Carlyle, Fredk. Gt., II. vii. (1872), I. 95. Rudolf … proved an excellent bit of stuff for a Kaiser.
1861. Whyte-Melville, Market Harb., i. ‘Capital bit of stuff,’ he repeats, dangling his feet out of the stirrups; ‘as game as a pebble, and as neat as a pink.’
1863. W. C. Baldwin, Afr. Hunting, vi. 175. He was as good a bit of stuff as ever was put together.
d. Material for literary elaboration; the matter or substance of a work, as distinguished from the form. Now rare. † In stuff: as regards the matter or substance.
c. 1450. Capgrave, St. Aug., xlv. 60. Þis glorious doctour whom all cristen men ar bounde to do worchip, most specialy clerkys … þat haue grete stuf oute of his bokes to her lernyng.
a. 1568. Ascham, Scholem., II. (Arb.), 129. They busie not them selues with forme of buildyng: They do not declare, this stuffe is thus framed by Demosthenes, and thus and thus by Tullie.
1607. Shaks., Timon, V. i. 87. And for thy fiction, Why thy Verse swels with stuffe so fine and smooth, That thou art euen Naturall in thine Art.
1619. in Eng. & Germ. (Camden), 192. The inclosed writing … being, as by perusall you will find, in stuffe the very same with that I had at Saltzburg.
1675. Marvell, Corr., Wks. (Grosart), II. 473. Having scarce stuffe enough for a letter to the Bench, I content myself with acquainting you [etc.].
1684. Roscommon, Ess. Transl. Verse, 44. Degrading Prose explains his meaning ill, And shews the Stuff, but not the Workman’s skill.
1855. Motley, Dutch Rep., III. ix. II. 458. This great event [the siege of Harlem] constituted … the principal stuff in Netherland history, up to the middle of the year 1573.
4. In various operative trades, applied spec. to the kind of material used in the trade.
a. Carpentry and Joinery: Timber.
Clear, free stuff: timber free from imperfections. Quarter stuff: see QUARTER sb. 30. Thick stuff: see quot. 1711.
1544. Betham, Precepts War, II. lv. L iv. Bycause stuffe doth somtyme want to make suche [wooden] brydges.
1678. Moxon, Mech. Exerc., vi. 113. The Wood that Joyners work upon they call in general Stuff.
1711. W. Sutherland, Shipbuild. Assist., 48. Plank and thick Stuff for Ship-work. Ibid., 165. Thick-stuff; all Plank (as it may be termed) which is thicker than 4 Inches.
1799. Hull Advertiser, 15 June, 2/2. Timber. For sale…. A variety of stuff suitable for camp buildings.
1812–6. J. Smith, Panorama Sci. & Art, I. 118. The shoulder [of the square] is pressed against the edge of a rectangular piece of stuff, and a line drawn close to the blade.
1833. Loudon, Encycl. Archit., § 83. The whole to be framed in a workmanlike manner, with the stuff (pieces of timber) sawed square of the several scantlings.
1879. Cassell’s Techn. Educ., IV. 130/1. Panel stuff should be treated in a similar manner.
1883. Encycl. Brit., XVI. 453/2. The timbers are usually of 12-inch stuff square hewn or sawn.
b. The material of which a beaver-hat is made. Cf. stuff hat (11 c).
1799. Repert. Arts & Manuf., X. 275. [Hat making.] The purpose of fulling being to form a dense compact stuff with hair.
c. Paper-making. (See quots.)
1745. De Coetlogon, Hist. Arts & Sci., II. 796/2. In these Mortars, the Rags being beaten…, they take them out with little Iron hooped Pails…. This makes what they call the first Stuff.… After this, the Stuff is again put into clean Mortars.
1766. Half-stuff [see HALF- II n].
1840. Penny Cycl., XVII. 208/2. The pulp, or stuff, as it is technically called, is now ready to be made into paper.
1875. Knight, Dict. Mech., Stuff, paper-stock, ground ready for use. When half ground it is known as half-stuff.
d. Mining. Material of rock, earth, or clay containing ore, metal, or precious stones.
1853. C. R. Read, Austral. Gold Fields, 15. Anxious, at all events, to have a look at the real stuff, I accompanied one down to see him wash out his tin dish.
1877. Raymond, Statist. Mines & Mining, 19. Fragments of a crimson-colored rock were found by the miners, intermixed with the gold-dust…. This ‘red stuff,’ so called, bothered the honest diggers not a little, interfering with their operations much after the manner of the celebrated ‘blue stuff’—the rich sulphurets of silver.
1885. Rider Haggard, K. Solomon’s Mines, xvi. I pointed to a series of worn flat slabs of stone … ‘if those are not tables once used to wash the “stuff,” I’m a Dutchman.’
1887. J. A. Phillips & Bauerman, Elem. Metall. (ed. 2), 185. The [iron] ore remains about ten minutes in the drum, or about 10 tons of stuff are washed per hour.
5. Material for making garments; woven material of any kind.
1462. Mann. & Househ. Exp. (Roxb.), 150. Item, delyvaryd to Willyam off Wardrope ffor stoffe ffor my lordys doblett, xx.d.
1473. Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot., I. 73. Veluous to purfel a govne to my Lady of blac satyne figory, of the Kingis awin stufe.
1551. Robinson, trans. More’s Utopia, II. ix. (1895), 294. The priest is clothed in chaungeable coloures, whiche in workemanshyp be excellent, but in stuffe [L. materia] not verye pretious.
1596. Shaks., Tam. Shr., IV. iii. 119. Gris. I gaue him the stuffe. Tail. But how did you desire it should be made?
1617. Moryson, Itin., I. 208. My selfe and my brother bought each of us a long coat of as course stuffe as we could find.
1713. Berkeley, Ess. in Guardian, v. Wks. 1871, III. 161. My couches, beds, and window-curtains are of Irish stuff.
1801. Strutt, Sports & Past., I. ii. 34. Certain quantities of stuff for the purpose of making ‘stalking coats, and stalking hose.’
1838. G. P. R. James, Robber, i. A coarse sort of stuff used by the common people.
b. In particularized sense: A kind of stuff; a textile fabric.
1604. E. G[rimstone], D’Acosta’s Hist. Indies, IV. xli. 320. The Indians make stuffs of this wooll wherewith they clothe themselves.
1625. in Foster, Eng. Factories India (1909), III. 62. ’Neccanies, semeanes, dimittes, stuffs, gumlack, bloodstones, and the rest’ will be sent as ordered.
a. 1627. Middleton, Anything for Quiet Life, II. ii. (1662), D 1. But if you’d have a Petticoat for your Lady, here’s a stuff.
1660. F. Brooke, trans. Le Blanc’s Trav., 92. They make stuffes of the bark of a tree, to cover their nakednesse.
1756. Nugent, Gr. Tour, Germany, II. 229. Leipsic has considerable manufactures of its own, as in stuffs.
1791. W. Hamilton, Berthollet’s Dyeing, I. Introd. 2. The stuffs … were immersed in vats, where they received various colours.
1838. Lytton, Leila, I. iv. The walls were covered with the stuffs of the East.
1857. Ruskin, Pol. Econ. Art, i. 10. Applying your labour rationally;… not … putting fine embroidery on a stuff that will not wear.
fig. 1601. Shaks., Twel. N., II. iii. 53. Youths a stuffe will not endure.
c. spec. A woollen fabric (see quot. 1882).
c. 1643. [cf. stuff suit 11 a].
1712. Steele, Spect., No. 264, ¶ 1. He dresses himself according to the Season in Cloth or in Stuff.
1735. Dyche & Pardon, Dict., Stuff, in Weaving, is any Sort of Commodity made of Woollen Thread, &c. but in a particular Manner those thin light ones that Women make or line their Gowns of or with.
1882. Caulfeild & Saward, Dict. Needlework, 465. Stuffs. This term … may be applied to any woven textile,… but it more especially denotes those of worsted, made of long or ‘combing wool.’… Stuffs are distinguished from other woollen cloths by the absence of any nap or pile.
1896. C. K. Paul, trans. Huysman’s En Route, II. vii. 276. The Trappist is buried without a coffin, in his robe of stuff.
d. As the material for the gown worn by a junior counsel. Hence rarely, A ‘stuff-gownsman,’ i.e., a junior counsel, as distinguished from a ‘silk’ (see SILK sb. 3 d).
For some years c. 1900 ‘Silk and Stuff’ was the heading of the column devoted to bar news in the Pall Mall Gazette.
1889. A. Birrell, Sir F. Lockwood, v. 82. In 1882 Lockwood whilst still in stuff defended … with great success, a woman who [etc.].
1892. Pall Mall Gaz., 12 Oct., 6/1. He was appointed to the bench when he was a ‘stuff’ merely on the ground of professional merit.
III. Matter of an unspecified kind.
6. The general designation for solid, liquid or (rarely) gaseous matter of any kind: used indefinitely instead of the specific designation, or where no specific designation exists. Often applied to a preparation or composition used for some special purpose.
1580–1. Act 23 Eliz., c. 9. Preamb., A certeyne kinde of Ware or Stuffe called Logwood.
1617. Moryson, Itin., III. 165. They … delight to have their boots and shoos shine with blacking stuffe.
1617. Shuttleworths’ Acc. (Chetham Soc.), 223. or stuffe to kille myce at Gawthropp, ijs.
1681. Langford, Fruit-trees, 108. Some thin stuff out of a House of Office … hath been often used with good success.
1714. Tyldesley, Diary (1873), 150. Gave Mrs. 6d. to by stufe ffor her tyeth.
1769. Falconer, Dict. Marine (1780), Stuff, any composition, or melted mass, used to smear or daub the masts, sides, or bottom of a ship.
1820. Shelley, Œdipus Tyr., II. i. 123. I vote … that Purganax rub a little of that stuff Upon his face.
1882. W. Huggins, in 19th Cent., Aug., 275. We have found that one part of the cometary stuff is in the condition of gas.
1899. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., VII. 819. The kidneys gradually finding greater and greater difficulty in getting out the toxic stuff.
¶ Although the Eng. word is not, like Ger. stoff, used for ‘matter’ in the scientific sense (as opposed to ‘spirit’ or to ‘force’ or ‘energy’), it sometimes occurs in nonce-uses intended to illustrate the notion expressed by matter in this application.
1875. Stewart & Tait, Unseen Univ., iii. § 93. 70. The conviction that there is something besides matter or stuff in the physical universe.
b. Applied to medicine, esp. liquid mixtures. More definitely doctor’s stuff (see DOCTOR sb. 13). Now only colloq. or with disparaging implication.
1611. Shaks., Cymb., V. v. 255. I … did compound for her A certaine stuffe, which being tane, would cease The present powre of life.
1636. in Trans. Essex Archæol. Soc. (1863), II. 213. Paid Mr. Stammer for a glasse of stuff sent to the sick folkes, 1s. 0d.
1779. Warner, in Jesse, Selwyn & Contemp. (1844), IV. 298. Your very kind letter … did me more good, I think, than any of my doctor’s stuff.
1819. Moore, Tom Crib’s Mem., 17. Sandy tipp’d him a dose of that kind, that, when taken, It is n’t the stuff, but the patient that’s shaken.
1847. Lever, Knt. Gwynne, xvii. The old doctor … tore a leaf out of his pocket-book to order me some stuff for the cough.
c. Applied to articles of food or drink. Good stuff, the stuff: colloq. whisky.
See also KITCHEN-STUFF, sweet-stuff (SWEET a. C 1).
1597. Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., II. iv. 69. There’s a whole Marchants Venture of Burdeux-Stuffe in him.
1678. in Jrnl. Friends’ Hist. Soc. (1912), IX. 193. Who being gone from the fathers house where ther is Liueing bread enough, his owne Company are glad of his dry huskey stufe.
1706. E. Ward, Wooden World Diss. (1708), 57. Wretched gripe-gut Stuff.
1712. Arbuthnot, John Bull, III. vi. 23. My Friend Nic and I, not being used to such heady Stuff [champagne], got bloody Drunk.
1825. T. C. Croker, Fairy Leg. Irel., xxxii. (1859), 269. Dropping the glass, and it full of the stuff too, I bolted out of the door.
1854. Surtees, Handley Cr., iv. (1901), I. 30. A farmer and brewer; and making pretty good stuff, ‘Dobbs’s Ale.’
1861. Meredith, Evan Harrington, xi. The guests had arrived at that stage when to reach the arm, or arrange the person, for a sip of good stuff, causes moral debates.
1886. D. C. Murray, Aunt Rachel, II. i. 12. Tek a shillin’ and get a drop o’ good stuff wi’ it, an’ warm up that old gizzard o’ thine.
1895. Bram Stoker, Watter’s Mou’, i. 5. Despite of all vigilance, a considerable amount of ‘stuff’ finds its way to the consumers without the formality of the Custom House.
1896. A. E. Housman, Shropshire Lad, lxii. Ale, man, ale’s the stuff to drink For fellows whom it hurts to think.
d. In certain operative trades, applied spec. to some particular composition or preparation used in the work. (a) Plastering. (See quot. 1812.) (b) Baking. (See quot. 1820.) (c) Leather-manuf. (See quot. 1875) = STUFFING.
Red stuff (see RED a. 19). Touching stuff (see TOUCHING vbl. sb. 4). White stuff, a gilders’ composition of size and whiting, used to form a surface over wood to be gilded. (Cent. Dict., 1891.)
(a) 1812. P. Nicholson, Mech. Exerc., 307. Fine Stuff is made of lime slacked and sifted through a fine sieve, and mixed with a due quantity of hair, and sometimes a small quantity of fine sand. Fine stuff is used in common ceilings and walls, set for paper or colour. Ibid., 309. Lime and Hair, is a mixture of lime and hair used in first coating and floating. It is otherwise denominated coarse stuff.
(b) 1820. Blackw. Mag., III. 546. Other individuals furnish the baker with alum mixed up with salt, under the obscure denomination of stuff.
1843. Pereira, Food & Diet, 311. Notwithstanding that the law prohibits, under a penalty, the use of alum by bakers, it is very frequently employed under the name of ‘stuff.’
(c) 1875. Knight, Dict. Mech., Stuff (Leather) a composition of fish-oil and tallow for filling the pores of leather. Dubbing.
1897. C. T. Davis, Manuf. Leather, xv. (ed. 2), 216. It must always be remembered that stale goods will not carry the stuff as well as fresh ones.
c. Cultivated produce of a garden or farm; natural produce of land.
a. 1687–. [see GARDEN-STUFF].
1813. T. Rudge, Agric. Glouc., 246. In some coppices, the small stuff, called drift-wood, is sold … as high as 5s. the square perch.
1868. Atkinson, Cleveland Gloss., ‘There’s a vast o’ stuff on t’ land, surely’; growth or produce.
1896. P. A. Graham, Red Scaur, iii. 34. His judgment of live-stock was infallible, and he seldom let any real good stuff go past.
1901. J. H. Harris, Luck of Wheal Veor, xi. 162. The ducks, chickens, and goslings, and all the young stuff shaping ‘keenly’ for future sale.
f. In commercial and industrial use, often applied spec. to the particular commodity dealt in or produced.
1708. J. C., Compl. Collier (1845), 12. By sight of the Stuff taken out of the Wimble, or Scoop, you plainly discover of what Kind it is.
1881. Good Words, 843/2. The iron rope … which … brought up the tub … with the ‘stuff’ as it was dug out.
1883. Gresley, Gloss. Coal-mining, 245. Stuff, coals and slack, the produce of the mine.
1912. World, 7 May, 700/1. Most of the nitrate companies … are making a better showing in their reports. At anything over 7s. 3d. per quintal the stuff pays handsomely.
1913. Standard, 14 July, 3/1. British steel is affected by the cheap offers of foreign stuff.
7. transf. and fig. in non-physical senses.
a. Literary or artistic matter; compositions, productions. Now rare exc. with disparaging implication (cf. 8), and colloq. among journalists and professional authors = ‘copy.’
1542. Udall, Erasm. Apoph., 12. Whiche booke perused, Euripides asked, what he thought of it. By Iuppiter (saied Socrates) that, that I haue been hable to vnderstand me thynketh to be ioyly good stuffe.
1562. Turner, Herbal, II. 70. He pretendeth as thoughe he neuer saw Dioscorides of whom he hath conueyed so much learned stuf in his omnigatherum.
a. 1586. Sidney, Astroph. & Stella, lvi. But now that I, alas, doe want her sight, What, dost thou thinke that I can euer take In thy cold stuffe a flegmatike delight?
a. 1668. Lassels, Voy. Italy, II. (1698), 76. I saw upon the wall some old painting,… pitiful stuff.
1693. Dryden, Persius, i. Argt. (1697), 400. To decry the Poetry then in Fashion; and the Impudence of those, who were endeavouring to pass their Stuff upon the World.
1711. Swift, Jrnl. to Stella, 3 Oct. I … then went in to the music-meeting…: but was weary in half an hour of their fine stuff, and stole out so privately that everybody saw me.
1883. F. M. Crawford, Dr. Claudius, i. He had been reading serious stuff.
1898. J. L. Williams, in Scribner’s Mag., May, 580/1. Some of the younger crowd could tell which was Linton’s stuff, and what kind of a story he was best at.
1915. Daily News, 24 April, 4. This does not mean that they had finished writing their ‘stuff’ (to use an expressive technical phrase) for the daily papers.
† b. Matter of thought. Obs.
1602. Shaks., Ham., II. ii. 324. Ham. … Man delights not me; no, nor Woman neither; though by your smiling you seeme to say so. Rosin. My Lord, there was no such stuffe in my thoughts.
c. Applied to a person: chiefly with qualifying word. Hot stuff (slang): Applied to (a) a lustful person; (b) a person of fiery courage.
1588. Shaks., L. L. L., IV. iii. 276. Kin. No Diuell will fright thee then so much as shee. Duma. I neuer knew man hold vile stuffe so deere.
1604. Middleton, Witch, IV. ii. (1778), 82. She goes here by the name on’s wife: good stuff! Ibid. (1607), Michaelmas Term, III. i. E 4. Sho. How now? what peece of stuffe comes heere?
a. 1641. Bp. Mountagu, Acts & Mon. (1642), 250. He was so besotted … upon that now broken stuffe, and Crone in yeares, the cast beauty of that woman [Cleopatra].
d. Fighting material. colloq.
1883. Manch. Exam., 24 Nov., 5/1. The army of Ibrahim included a good deal of tougher stuff than the ordinary fellah of Egypt.
1894. Outing, Sept., 445/1. Good! that big stuff can’t box a little bit.
8. What is worthless; rubbish. (Orig. a contextual use of sense 7, with disparaging epithet or other indication of aversion). a. gen.
a. 1668. Lassels, Voy. Italy, II. (1670), 404. Here also they have every night in summer, a world of Montibanks, Ciarlatani, and such stuff.
1706. M. Henry, Expos. Gen. xlv. 20. What they had in Canaan he reckoned but stuff … the best of its [the world’s] Enjoyments are but stuff, but lumber.
1720. Hearne, Collect. (O.H.S.), VII. 120. Dr. Charlett … went over … to get some MSS. (I am told, very sorry ones) for the Publ. Library…. The Persons that told me observ’d that a Library may soon be filled with such stuff.
1810. Sporting Mag., XXXVI. 187. A red curtain, a Grecian couch, or some such fashionable stuff.
1883. Daily News, 14 Feb., 5/7. The brass dishes are poor stuff.
b. Worthless ideas, discourse or writing; nonsense, rubbish. Often coupled with nonsense (chiefly stuff and nonsense, † nonsense and stuff). Frequently in interjectional use.
1579. Gosson, Sch. Abuse (Arb.), 66. Iuno crieth out in Seneca,… Lets dwel in earth, for heauen is full of whores. What stuffe is this? wantons in heauen?
1606. Shaks., Tr. & Cr., I. iii. 161. At this fusty stuffe, The large Achilles … laughes out a lowd applause.
1691–8. Norris, Pract. Disc., IV. 415. Would not this be mere Stuff, wretched Trifling,… and as much to the Purpose as if he had said just Nothing?
1701. Farquhar, Sir H. Wildair, IV. ii. Golden Pleasures! Golden Fiddlesticks.—What d’ye tell me of your canting Stuff? Ibid. Stuff! stuff! stuff!—I won’t believe a Word on’t.
1749. Fielding, Tom Jones, VII. vi. Pooh, all stuff and nonsense. I tell thee, she shall ha’ thee to-morrow.
1770. Foote, Lame Lover, I. 10. Pshaw! nonsense and stuff.—The eye!
1778. Johnson, in Boswell (1904), II. 185. It is sad stuff, Sir, miserably written, as books in general then were.
1833. Coleridge, Table-t., 28 Aug. Your art diplomatic is stuff:—no truly great man would negociate now upon any such shallow principles.
1851–61. Mayhew, Lond. Labour, II. 175/2. It’s all stuff and nonsense, all this talk about dust-yards being unhealthy.
1852. Thackeray, Esmond, I. vi. ‘Stuff! we must see Lady Castlewood,’ says the lawyer, pushing by.
1860. Miss Yonge, Hopes & Fears, I. 181. ‘Only because I am not come out.’ ‘Stuff about coming out! I don’t like my girls to be shy and backward.’
1887. T. E. Brown, Lett. (1900), I. 125. Poor G. Sand! I am reading her Amours de l’Age d’Or. Woe is me! what awful stuff!
1890. ‘R. Boldrewood,’ Col. Reformer, xxiv. ‘Stuff!’ said Miss Augusta.
† c. Indecent matter. Obs.
1749. Fielding, Tom Jones, XII. v. A grave matron told the master [of a puppet-show] she would bring her two daughters the next night, as he did not show any stuff.
d. Phrase. —— and stuff, and such-like useless or uninteresting matters. colloq.
1697[?]. J. Lewis, Mem. Dk. Glocester (1789), 66. She turned to me and said, ‘Lewis, I find you pretend to give the Duke notions of the mathematics, and stuff.’
1729. Swift, Grand Question debated, 159. Your Noveds, and Blutraks, and Omurs and Stuff, By G—, they don’t signify this Pinch of Snuff.
1774. Goldsm., Retal., 145. When they talk’d of their Raphaels, Corregios, and stuff.
1852. Thackeray, Esmond, III. iv. And as for you, you want a woman … to sit at your feet, and cry, ‘O caro! O bravo!’ whilst you read your Shakespeares and Miltons and stuff.
9. U.S. (See quot.) Cf. STUFFY a. 4.
1787. J. Q. Adams, Diary (1903), 66. She … has rather too much temper, or as it is called in New-England, too much stuff.
10. slang. a. Money, cash. Chiefly with article the stuff.
1775. Sheridan, Rivals, I. i. But has she got the stuff, Mr. Fag; is she rich, hey?
1787. Minor, 198. He made me an offer of some stuff—for such, you may recollect, is the epithet bestowed by all great philosophers on gold.
1823. ‘Jon Bee,’ Dict. Turf, s.v., ‘Hand over the stuff,’ give the money.
1896. J. F. B. Lillard, Poker Stories, 50. Those were the days, my boy—… every sport with stuff in his pockets and lots of good clothes.
b. Stolen goods.
1865. Daily Tel., 3 Nov., 5/1. This particular parcel of ‘stuff’ was arrested, however, in mid course.
1894. Daily News, 16 Oct., 2/5. Fitzpatrick at once confessed to complicity in the robbery, and said he would tell where ‘the stuff’ was.
c. Forbidden goods smuggled into a jail.
1904. A. Griffiths, 50 Yrs. Public Service, xi. 154. We had news constantly of ‘stuff’ planted for cash in exchange.
11. attrib. and Comb.
a. attrib. passing into adj.: Made of stuff or woollen cloth (see sense 5 c).
c. 1643. Ld. Herbert, Autobiog. (1824), 162. A … person came to me apparelled in a black stuff suit.
1702. Post Man, 17–19 Sept., 2/2. Sad coloured stuff Coat, and black Hat.
1718. Freethinker, No. 13, ¶ 8. Were she to be reduced to a Stuff-Gown to-morrow, [she] could part with all her Jewels and Brocades, without a Sigh.
1730. Inventory R. Woolley’s Goods (1732), 11. 3 Chairs with Stuff Seats.
1839. Macaulay, Gladstone, Ess. 1865, II. 65. To tell a barrister … that he shall grow old in his stuff gown, while his pupils are seated above him in ermine.
1840. Barham, Ingol. Leg., Ser. II. Black Mousquetaire, II. 80. The fusty stuff gown of a Sœur de la Charité.
1856. N. Brit. Rev., XXVI. 248. He led the Northern Circuit in a stuff gown, many silks being obliged to keep their talents in abeyance.
1857. Hughes, Tom Brown, I. ii. The field thronged with country-folk, the men in clean white smocks…, and the women … in new-fashioned stuff shawls.
1897. Mrs. E. L. Voynich, Gadfly, I. iii. An old stuff frock that was too short for her.
b. Simple attrib., as stuff goods, -manufacture, mercer, trade; objective, as stuff-finisher, -maker, -manufacturer, -seller, -weaver; stuff-weaving vbl. sb.; parasynthetic, as stuff-bottomed adj.
1816. Scott, Antiq., x. The … heavy *stuff-bottomed chairs.
1861. Internat. Exhib. 1862, Alph. Lists Trades, 39. *Stuff Finishers.
1816. Acts 14th Congr. U.S., Sess. I. c. 107 § 1. Blankets, woollen rugs and worsted or *stuff goods.
1780. Indenture Clifton, Notts, Bennet Thorpe, *stuffmaker.
1730. Lett. to Sir W. Strickland rel. to Coal Trade, 11. The Callicoe-Act … made on purpose to encourage our *Stuff-Manufacture.
1858. Simmonds, Dict. Trade, *Stuff-manufacturer, a maker of thin woollen cloth.
1723. Lond. Gaz., No. 6139/3. John Harrison and Richard Harrison,… *Stuff-Mercers. Ibid. (1711), No. 4801/4. William Paine,… *Stuff-seller.
1884. Manch. Exam., 12 Nov., 5/3. It was proclaimed … that the *stuff trade had gone to the dogs altogether.
1706. Lond. Gaz., No. 4246/8. William Madlow,… a *Stuff-Weaver.
1832. Thackrah, Effects Arts, etc., on Health (ed. 2), Index 237. Stuff-weavers.
1702. E. Calamy, Abridgm. Baxter’s Life & Times, iii. 34. Their Common Trade of *Stuff Weaving would find Work for all.
c. Special comb.: stuff ball (see quot.); stuff-chest Paper-manuf., the vat or reservoir into which the pulps from the beating engine are run and mixed; stuff engine Paper-manuf., the ‘beating engine,’ a machine in which half-stuff is reduced to a fine pulp; stuff gown, a junior counsel (see 5 d above); so also stuff gownsman; stuff hat (see quot. 1839); stuff heap, a heap of coals and slack raised from a mine; stuff mark, a weaver’s mark woven into goods for the purpose of identification or as attestation of their quality; stuff-melter Soap-manuf., an operative who extracts the oils, fats, etc., from the raw materials; stuff-presser Woollen-manuf., a workman employed in pressing or finishing the cloth; stuff shoes (see quot. 1892); stuff-shovel (see quot.).
1880. Sir C. H. J. Anderson, Lincoln Pocket Guide, 176. Patronesses of the *Stuff Ball. Established in 1787 for the encouragement of native woollen manufacture…. The ladies used to wear stuff gowns, and the gentlemen stuff coats [etc.]. [List of Patronesses, 1787–1879, follows.]
1799. Hull Advertiser, 1 June, 1/1. Paper-mill … comprises … four vatts, *stuff-chests and beaters.
1881. Spons’ Encycl. Industr. Arts, IV. 1497. Whence the mixed stuff flows on the sand-tables, to be again used to dilute fresh pulp from the stuff-chests.
1839. Ure, Dict. Arts, 924. The construction of the *stuff-engine is represented in figs. 785, 786.
1867. Woolrych, Bar & Serjeant-at-Law, 7. The promotions will be of a *Stuff Gown, as it is called, or of a learned Counsel of the Crown.
1852. Fraser’s Mag., Feb., 129/1. A sagacious chancellor lifts a *stuff-gownsman from the back row to the judgment-seat.
1839. Ure, Dict. Arts, 634. The materials used in making *stuff hats are the furs of hairs and rabbits freed from the long hair, together with wool and beaver.
1662. Act 14 Chas. II., c. 5 § 15. Every Person … shall weave his proper *Stuff Mark into every peice of Stuff which he shall weave.
1884. A. Watt, Soap-making, 28. Kitchen-stuff, as prepared by the *‘stuff-melters,’ is a very useful article for mottled soaps.
1832. Thackrah, Effects Arts, etc., on Health (ed. 2), 139. *STUFF-PRESSERS carry heavy plates of iron heated to redness.
1794. Waldron, Heigho for Husb., I. ii. 3. We’ll … put on coarse linen gowns, and *stuff shoes; enrol ourselves at a register-office; get good places.
1892. Labour Commission, Gloss., Stuff Shoes, Shoes of which the tops or upper parts are made from ‘lasting’ [a woven worsted material], cashmere, or fancy cloth.
1858. Simmonds, Dict. Trade, *Stuff-shovel, an implement used by the paper-makers.
