huff
UK: hʌf | US: hʌf
n. a fit of anger or annoyance; a puff of air or smoke
vt. to blow or puff loudly; to express anger or irritation
vi. to breathe heavily; to act in a pompous or offended manner
The word "huff" is an example of onomatopoeia, imitating the sound of forceful exhalation or puffing. It emerged in the late 16th century, originally describing the act of blowing air audibly, later extending metaphorically to expressions of anger or arrogance (e.g., "huffing and puffing"). Its monosyllabic structure and imitative nature classify it as non-splittable under the morpheme integrity rule.
She left the room in a huff after the argument.
The dragon let out a huff of smoke before taking flight.
Don’t huff at me—I’m just telling the truth.
He huffed his way up the steep hill, out of breath.
The engine huffed and puffed as it struggled to start.