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Consult Chambers 21st Century Dictionary, The Chambers Thesaurus (1996) or Chambers Biographical Dictionary (1997 edition with amendments). Enter your search and choose your title from the drop-down menu.

Search results for 'muff':

muff1 noun a wide fur tube which the wearer, usually a woman, places their hands inside for warmth, one through each end.
ETYMOLOGY: 16c: probably from Dutch mof, from moffel a mitten.

muff2 colloq verb (muffed, muffing) 1 sport a to miss (a catch); b to perform (a stroke, etc) awkwardly or unsuccessfully; to bungle or fluff something. 2 to miss (an opportunity, etc). noun a failure or bungle, especially a failure to hold a catch.
ETYMOLOGY: 19c: originally meaning 'someone who is awkward or bungling at sport'.