Meanings
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1
noun
a tube of fur or warm fabric into which both hands are placed for warmth
She carried a velvet muff to keep her hands warm during the sleigh ride.
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2
verb
to handle something clumsily or spoil an opportunity through error
He muffed his opening line but recovered quickly.
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3
noun
in sport, a failure to catch or control a ball cleanly
The receiver's muff gave the opposing team possession.
Thesaurus
Etymology
The clothing noun entered English in the sixteenth century from French moufle, "mitten," ultimately of Germanic origin. The verb developed later from the idea of clumsy or ineffective handling, producing the sporting noun for a failed catch.