puffy
UK: ˈpʌfi | US: ˈpʌfi
adj. swollen or inflated in appearance
adj. (of clothing) soft and padded
adj. (of speech or writing) overly elaborate or pompous
The word "puffy" originates from the Middle English "puff," meaning a short burst of air or breath, derived from the Old English "pyffan" (to blow). The suffix "-y" was added to form an adjective, originally describing things that resemble or are filled with puffs of air (e.g., swollen clouds or padded fabric). Over time, it expanded metaphorically to describe inflated speech or writing.
Her eyes were puffy after crying all night.
He wore a puffy jacket to stay warm in the winter.
The pastry was light and puffy, just like a cloud.
The critic dismissed the novel as puffy and pretentious.
The marshmallow turned puffy when roasted over the fire.