- rebuff (v.)
- 1580s, from obsolete French rebuffer "to check, snub," from Italian ribuffare "to check, chide, snide," from ribuffo "a snub," from ri- "back" (from Latin re-, see re-) + buffo "a puff," of imitative origin (compare buffet (v.)). Related: Rebuffed; rebuffing.
- rebuff (n.)
- 1610s, from rebuff (v.), or from Middle French rebuffe or Italian ribuffo.
