fluff
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
Railway ticket clerks’ slang for short change given by them. The profits thus accruing are called "fluffings," and the practice is known as "fluffing."
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “fluff” mean?
Railway ticket clerks’ slang for short change given by them. The profits thus accruing are called "fluffings," and the practice is known as "fluffing."
Is “fluff” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.