ENGLISH
REFERENCE

cuff

n. · v.
US //ˈkəf// UK //kˈʌf// cuff
  1. 1 sleeve end (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    the part of a shirt or jacket sleeve that covers the wrist.

    the end part of a sleeve, where the material of the garment is turned back or a separate band is sewn on.

    Example

    He fastened the silver buttons on his shirt cuff before putting on his jacket.

    Example

    The tailor suggested a French cuff for the dress shirt to accommodate the ornate cufflinks the groom intended to wear.
  2. 2 trouser fold (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate American English

    a fold of material at the bottom of a trouser leg.

    a fold or turned-up finish at the bottom of a trouser leg.

    Example

    The tailor adjusted the length of the trousers and added a small cuff.

    Example

    Traditional sartorial standards often dictate that pleated trousers should feature a cuff, whereas flat-front trousers should have a plain hem.
    • turn up
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  1. 3 handcuffs (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal Law

    a pair of metal rings joined by a chain, used by police to hold a prisoner's wrists.

    a device for fastening together the wrists of a prisoner, typically consisting of two metal rings connected by a chain.

    Example

    The officer put the cuffs on the suspect and led him to the car.

    Example

    The suspect remained silent as the arresting officer tightened the cuffs and recited the mandatory legal warnings.
  2. 4 to hit (v.)
    C1 Advanced Literary

    to hit someone, usually on the head, with an open hand.

    to strike someone with the open hand, especially on the head or ear.

    Example

    The old man cuffed the boy on the ear for being disrespectful.

    Example

    In the novel, the protagonist is cuffed by his master for a minor transgression, highlighting the harsh social hierarchy of the period.
  3. 5 to handcuff (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Law

    to put handcuffs on someone.

    to restrain a person by using handcuffs. Transitive use.

    Example

    The police had to cuff him because he was trying to run away.

    Example

    Standard procedure requires officers to cuff any individual taken into custody to ensure the safety of both the public and the transport team.
  4. 6 to start a relationship (v.)
    C1 Advanced Slang Informal

    to start a serious romantic relationship with someone, especially during winter.

    to enter into a committed romantic relationship; often used in the context of 'cuffing season'.

    Example

    He decided it was time to cuff his girlfriend after they had been dating for six months.

    Example

    Social media trends often highlight the phenomenon of people looking to cuff a partner as the colder months approach, a period colloquially known as cuffing season.
    • partner up
    • break up
Etymology 1

From Middle English cuffe, coffe (“glove, mitten”), of obscure origin. Perhaps from Old English cuffie (“hood, cap”), from Medieval Latin cofia, cofea, cuffa, cuphia (“helmet, headdress, hood, cap”), from Frankish kuf(f)ja (“headdress”), from Proto-West Germanic kuffju, from Proto-Germanic *kupjō (“cap”). Cognate with Middle High German kupfe (“cap”).

Etymology 2

Clipping of handcuff.

Etymology 3

1520, “to hit”, apparently of North Germanic origin, from Norwegian kuffa (“to push, shove”) or Swedish kuffa (“to knock, thrust, strike”), from the Proto-Germanic base skuf- (skuƀ), from Proto-Indo-European skewbʰ-, see also Lithuanian skùbti (“to hurry”), Polish skubać (“to pluck”), Albanian humb (“to lose”). Germanic cognates include Low German kuffen (“to box the ears”), German kuffen (“to thrash”). More at scuff, shove, scuffle.

Word family

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