Stuff \Stuff\, n. [OF. estoffe, F. ['e]toffe; of uncertain origin, perhaps of Teutonic origin and akin to E. stop, v.t. Cf. Stuff, v. t.]

1. Material which is to be worked up in any process of manufacture.

For the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it, and too much. --Ex. xxxvi. 7.

Ambitions should be made of sterner stuff. --Shak.

The workman on his stuff his skill doth show, And yet the stuff gives not the man his skill. --Sir J. Davies.

2. The fundamental material of which anything is made up; elemental part; essence.

Yet do I hold it very stuff o' the conscience To do no contrived murder. --Shak.

3. Woven material not made into garments; fabric of any kind; specifically, any one of various fabrics of wool or worsted; sometimes, worsted fiber.

What stuff wilt have a kirtle of? --Shak.

It [the arras] was of stuff and silk mixed, though, superior kinds were of silk exclusively. --F. G. Lee.

4. Furniture; goods; domestic vessels or utensils.

He took away locks, and gave away the king's stuff. --Hayward.

5. A medicine or mixture; a potion. --Shak.

6. Refuse or worthless matter; hence, also, foolish or irrational language; nonsense; trash.

Anger would indite Such woeful stuff as I or Shadwell write. --Dryden.

7. (Naut.) A melted mass of turpentine, tallow, etc., with which the masts, sides, and bottom of a ship are smeared for lubrication. --Ham. Nav. Encyc.

8. Paper stock ground ready for use.

Note: When partly ground, called half stuff. --Knight.

Clear stuff. See under Clear.

Small stuff (Naut.), all kinds of small cordage. --Ham. Nav. Encyc.

Stuff gown, the distinctive garb of a junior barrister; hence, a junior barrister himself. See Silk gown, under Silk.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Stuff \Stuff\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Stuffed; p. pr. & vb. n. Stuffing.]

[OE. stoffen; cf. OF. estoffer, F. ['e]toffer, to put stuff in, to stuff, to line, also, OF. estouffer to stifle, F. ['e]touffer; both perhaps of Teutonic origin, and akin to E. stop. Cf. Stop, v. t., Stuff, n.]

1. To fill by crowding something into; to cram with something; to load to excess; as, to stuff a bedtick.

Sometimes this crook drew hazel bought adown, And stuffed her apron wide with nuts so brown. --Gay.

Lest the gods, for sin, Should with a swelling dropsy stuff thy skin. --Dryden.

2. To thrust or crowd; to press; to pack.

Put roses into a glass with a narrow mouth, stuffing them close together . . . and they retain smell and color. --Bacon.

3. To fill by being pressed or packed into.

With inward arms the dire machine they load, And iron bowels stuff the dark abode. --Dryden.

4. (Cookery) To fill with a seasoning composition of bread, meat, condiments, etc.; as, to stuff a turkey.

5. To obstruct, as any of the organs; to affect with some obstruction in the organs of sense or respiration.

I'm stuffed, cousin; I can not smell. --Shak.

6. To fill the skin of, for the purpose of preserving as a specimen; -- said of birds or other animals.

7. To form or fashion by packing with the necessary material.

An Eastern king put a judge to death for an iniquitous sentence, and ordered his hide to be stuffed into a cushion, and placed upon the tribunal. --Swift.

8. To crowd with facts; to cram the mind of; sometimes, to crowd or fill with false or idle tales or fancies.

9. To put fraudulent votes into (a ballot box). [U. S.]

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Stuff \Stuff\, v. i. To feed gluttonously; to cram.

Taught harmless man to cram and stuff. --Swift.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)