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I sent this earlier; for reasons I don't understand it seems to have
gone to Ben Zimmer only. It may be of wider interest:<br>
<br>
In re guff:<br>
<br>
1841 ‘Ax My Eye’ in <i>The Dublin Comic Songster</i> 100: Stow your
gab and guffery, / To every fakement I am fly, / I never takes no
fluffery<br>
<br>
Guffery not in OED, nor yet what seems to be the equally 'nonsensical'
fluffery; the best on 'fluff' = 'something insubstantial or trifling,
esp. journalism or other writing, usu. of a sentimental nature' is 1906.<br>
<br>
Jonathon Green<br>
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