guff (1880)

[Benjamin Zimmer]

For "guff", HDAS has 'insolent or impertinent talk' from 1879 and 'empty
talk, nonsense' from 1884.  These cites seem to lean a bit more towards
nonsense than insolence.


http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=338562
Harvard Crimson, Oct 29, 1880
This is rot.
You cannot
Get the flam.
You said damn.
And I swear
I can't bear
Any more
Such a bore.
Darn the fuss!
Hear me cuss.
"Right you are,"
Comes over your cigar.
That's enough, -
No more guff.

http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=322969
Harvard Crimson, Dec 21, 1880
GUFF.
I MET an old and learned man,
And asked him "What is 'guff'?
I've looked the word-books through and through,
And only met rebuff."
"You simple youth, you artless boy,"
He thus to me rejoined,
"I know not what this word can mean,
It must be newly coined."
I met a staid professor man,
And prayed him "What is guff?"
Quoth he, "I know not, though I've heard
It mentioned, sure enough."
I met a callow Harvard lad
And him my question told;
He smiled a quizzing, knowing smile,
And forthwith answered bold, -
"If you should say professors mark
By any scheme that's fair,
Or swore that Sever Hall is filled
By aught but frozen air;
"If you should hint you understood
The Rules and Regulations,
Or thought that voluntary were
The present recitations;
"Or knew when your Forensics came,
Or, what is better still,
Declared you never were hard up,
Or owed a single bill, -
"Why then, my friend, to all these things,
Which are but silly stuff, -
I'd straightway bid you hold your tongue
And leave off giving GUFF."


--Ben Zimmer