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4274 entries found
Puerto Rico 
Spanish, literally "rich harbor;" Caribbean island, name given in 1493 by Christopher Columbus to the large bay on the north side of the island; he called the island itself San Juan. Over time the name of the bay became the name of the island and the name of the island was taken by the town that grew up at the bay. Often spelled Porto Rico in 19c.; current spelling was made official 1932.
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puff (v.)
Old English pyffan "to blow with the mouth," of imitative origin. Meaning "pant, breathe hard and fast" is from late 14c. Used of small swellings and round protuberances since 1530s. Transitive figurative sense of "exalt" is from 1530s; shading by early 18c. into meaning "praise with self-interest." Related: Puffed; puffing.
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puff (n.)
c. 1200, perhaps Old English, puf, puffe "short, quick blast; act of puffing," from puff (v.). Meaning "type of light pastry" is recorded from late 14c.; that of "small pad for applying powder to skin or hair" is from 1650s. Figurative sense of "flattery, inflated praise" is first recorded 1732. Derogatory use for "homosexual male" is recorded by 1902.
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puff-adder (n.)
1789 of a South African snake that is venomous; 1882 of a western U.S. snake that is not; from puff (v.) + adder.
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puff-ball (n.)
type of fungus, 1640s, from puff + ball (n.1).
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puffer (n.)
1620s, agent noun from puff (v.). As "one who praises or extols," from 1736. As a type of fish that inflates itself in defense, from 1814.
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puffery (n.)
"inflated laudation" [OED], 1782, from puff (v.) in its figurative sense + -ery.
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puffin (n.)
North Atlantic seabird, mid-14c., perhaps connected with puff on notion of appearance, or from some Celtic word (earliest association is with Cornwall and Scilly), and altered by influence of puff.
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puffy (adj.)
1610s, of wind, "gusty," from puff + -y (2). Of other things, "swollen," from 1660s. Earliest attested use is figurative, "bombastic" (1590s). Related: Puffily; puffiness.
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pug (n.)
1560s, general term of endearment (also puggy), probably related to puck (n.2); one of the earliest senses is "sprite, imp" (1610s). The sense of "miniature dog" is from 1749 (pug-dog); that of "monkey" is 1660s. The word at various times meant "a bargeman" (1590s), "a harlot" (c. 1600), and "an upper servant in a great house" (1847).
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