poof
UK[pʊf]US[pʊf]
interj
Used to represent a sudden disappearance or a puff of smoke or air.
n
A sudden disappearance or a person who is perceived as effeminate or gay (slang, often derogatory).
Etymology
The word 'poof' is a prime example of linguistic iconicity, where the form of the word directly mimics its perceived sound. It emerged in the late 18th century as an expressive interjection to represent the sound of a sudden puff, such as that from extinguishing a candle or a light explosive noise. This imitative quality naturally extended to describe the visual concept of a sudden, magical disappearance, often accompanied by the imagined sound effect 'poof!'. The slang usage referring to a person, originating in the early 20th century, is unrelated to the sound symbolism and represents a separate, derogatory semantic development.
Analysis
This is an onomatopoeic simplex word, formed to imitate the sound of a sudden puff of air or a light explosion. It does not contain separable morphemes in the traditional sense.
Examples
The magician waved his wand and, poof, the rabbit vanished.
She blew out the candles with a soft poof.
The agreement seemed to dissolve into poof at the first sign of trouble.