or fluffings, subs. (railway clerks’).—1. Short change given by booking-clerks. The practice is known as FLUFFING. Cf., MENAVELINGS. Fr., des fruges (= more or less unlawful profits of any sort).
1890. Star, 27 Jan. Many porters on this line are but getting 15s. per week, and with regard to ‘tips,’ or, as we say, ‘FLUFF’—well, would you not think it mean to tell your servant when you engaged him that such were strictly forbidden by punishment with dismissal, and then proclaim to the world that with good wages and tips your servant was well paid.
2. (theatrical).—‘Lines’ half learned and imperfectly delivered. Hence, TO DO A FLUFF = to forget one’s part.
1891. W. ARCHER, The World, p. 28, col. 1, line 34. But even as seen through a cloud of FLUFF the burlesque is irresistibly amusing.
3. (venery).—The female pubic hair. For synonyms, see FLEECE.
Verb. (railway clerks’).—1. To give short change.
2. (common).—To disconcert, to FLOOR (q.v.). Cf., FLUFF IN THE PAN = a failure.
3. (theatrical).—To forget one’s part. Also TO DO A FLUFF.
