STUFF, noun [G., See Stove and Stew.]

1. A mass of matter, indefinitely; or a collection of substances; as a heap of dust, of chips or of dross.

2. The matter of which any thing is formed; materials. The carpenter and joiner speak of the stuff with which they build; mechanics pride themselves on having their wares made of good stuff

Time is the stuff which life is made of.

Degrading prose explains his meaning ill, and shows the stuff and not the workmans skill.

Cesar hath wept; ambition should be made of sterner stuff

3. Furniture; goods; domestic vessels in general.

He took away locks, and gave away the kings stuff [Nearly obsolete.]

4. That which fills any thing.

Cleanse the suffd bosom of that perilous stuff that weighs upon the heart.

5. Essence; elemental part; as the stuff of the conscience.

6. A medicine. [Vulgar.]

7. Cloth; fabrics of the loom; as silk stuffs; woolen stuffs. In this sense the word has a plural. stuff comprehends all cloths, but it signifies particularly woolen cloth of slight texture for linings.

8. Matter or thing; particularly, that which is trifling or worthless; a very extensive use of the word. Flattery is fulsome stuff; poor poetry is miserable stuff

Anger would indite such woful stuff as I or Shadwell write.

9. Among seamen, a melted mass of turpentine, tallow, etc. With which the masts, sides and bottom of a ship are smeared.

STUFF, verb transitive

1. To fill; as, to stuff a bedtick.

2. To fill very full; to crowd.

This crook drew hazel boughs adown, and stuffd her apron wide with nuts so brown.

3. To thrust in; to crowd; to press.

Put roses into a glass with a narrow mouth, stuffing them close together.

4. To fill by being put into nay thing.

With inward arms the dire machine they load, and iron bowels stuff the dark abode.

5. To swell or cause to bulge out by putting something in.

STUFF me out with straw.

6. To fill with something improper.

For thee I dim these eyes, and stuff this head with all such reading as was never read.

7. To obstruct, as any of the organs.

Im stuffd, cousin; I cannot smell.

8. To fill meat with seasoning; as, to stuff a leg of veal.

9. To fill the skin of a dead animal for presenting and preserving his form; as, to stuff a bird or a lions skin.

10. To form by filling.

An eastern king put a judge to death for an iniquitous sentence, and ordered his hide to be stuffed into a cushion, and placed upon the tribunal.

STUFF, verb intransitive To feed gluttonously.

Taught harmless man to cram and stuff