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Definition of puffin

puffin

/ˈpʌf.ɪn/
puf · fin
Plural:puffins
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puffin Lexical Profile

puffin Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A pelagic seabird of the auk family (Alcidae), primarily found in the North Atlantic and North Pacific oceans, characterized by a stocky build, black and white plumage, and a large, brightly colored triangular beak during the breeding season.

Example

"During our boat tour in Iceland, we saw hundreds of puffins nesting along the jagged coastal cliffs."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for puffin

• Rhymes for puffin

• Nearby Words

puffbird
puffer
pufferfish
puffin
puffing snake
puffy
pug

Word Origin & Etymology

From Middle English 'pophyn' or 'poffin', likely derived from the word 'puff' due to the swollen, puffy appearance of the fatty nestlings. Originally, the term was applied to the cured carcasses of nestling Manx shearwaters before being transferred to the Atlantic seabird in the 17th century.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Puffin. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 21, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/puffin
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