glove; mitten
"The cat rubbed its head against my arm, causing me to feel a slight tingle on my cuff."
A blow, especially with the open hand; a box; a slap.
The scruff of the neck.
In plain English: A cuff is when you grab someone roughly by the back of their neck.
"The dog playfully nipped at my hand and gave my sleeve a quick cuff."
Usage: Cuff (noun) refers to the part of a garment, like a shirt or sleeve, that encircles the wrist. It can also refer to grasping someone firmly by the scruff of their neck.
To furnish with cuffs.
"The teacher quickly cuffed the student on the ear after he made fun of her accent."
To hit, as a reproach, particularly with the open palm to the head; to slap.
In plain English: To cuff means to gently hit someone with an open hand, often as a mild punishment.
"The teacher gently cuffed him on the head for talking out of turn."
Usage: Use "cuff" when describing a light, often playful or disciplinary strike to the head with an open hand. It implies a gentle reprimand rather than serious harm, like cuffing a child on the head playfully.
A surname.
"The Cuff family has lived in that village for three generations."
The word "cuff" comes from the Old English term for a hood or cap. It traveled into modern usage to describe the fabric band at the end of a sleeve, likely shifting meaning over time as clothing styles evolved.