subs. (military).—1. A lie; an exaggerated and improbable story.—See quot., under TO SPIN CUFFERS, and for synonyms, see WHOPPER.
2. (American thieves’).—A man; also CUFFIR. [Cf., COFE, COVE, and CUFFIN, from one of which the American form is doubtless derived.]
1859. G. W. MATSELL, Vocabulum; or, The Rogue’s Lexicon, s.v.
TO SPIN CUFFERS, phr.—To tell extremely improbable stories; to yarn; TO DRAW THE LONG BOW (q.v.).
1888. Colonies and India, 14 Nov. The Australian youth can develop the art of SPINNING CUFFERS very successfully on his own account, without any adventitious assistance from a passing Minister of Public Instruction.
