Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1800-1900
Origin: BUFF1; because leather was used for polishing ( BUFF12)

buff

2 verb
     
buff2 also buff up [transitive]
to polish something with a cloth:
Sandra was buffing her nails.

buff up

phrasal verb
to exercise in order to make your muscles bigger:
Smith buffed up for his role as Muhammad Ali.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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