\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}.

\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.]

\Stuff\, v. i.
To feed gluttonously; to cram.
      Taught harmless man to cram and stuff.   --Swift.