puff

A sharp exhalation of a small amount of breath through the mouth.

The ability to breathe easily while exerting oneself.

out of puff

A small quantity of gas or smoke in the air.

puff of smoke

A sudden but small gust of wind, smoke, etc.

to every puff of wind a slave

"The wind we had was only an early puff! You'll see we shall have our full allowance!"

An act of inhaling smoke from a cigarette, cigar or pipe.

When I went to bed that night I found that I could not get to sleep. At five o'clock I got up and took a hot bath. I climbed back into bed and lighted one of the Chinese-made "Great Wall" cigars my hosts had thoughtfully provided, and sat puffing on the cigar and making notes about the events of the momentous week.

To emit smoke, gas, etc., in puffs.

Still on the down line, the engine puffed away to the South, and in a few moments had disappeared in the darkness!

To pant.

By and by comes the ass back again, Puffing and Blowing, from the Chase.

Puffing and panting, we plodded on until within about a mile of the harbor we came upon a sight that brought us all up standing.

To advertise.

To blow as an expression of scorn.

It is really to defy Heaven to puff at damnation.

To swell with air; to be dilated or inflated.

'tis easy for a man to have a great opinion of his own knowledge , and be puff'd up by it