Definition of buff up

The phrase "buff up" originated in the mid-20th century and is a slang term that comes from the world of bodybuilding. In bodybuilding, buff refers to being muscular and well-built, while up refers to improving or increasing something. So, the expression "buff up" can be understood as enhancing one's physical appearance by building muscle and improving physical strength. Initially, the term "buff" had a different meaning, rooted in the mid-19th century, when it was used to describe someone dressed in pure white clothing. This originated from the medieval Latin word bufonem, meaning "leather breeches," which was associated with buff-colored leather. Later, the medieval Latin phrase bufus calvus, meaning "bald buffalo," morphed into the modern word "buff" due to mispronunciation. The term "buff up" gained popularity in the bodybuilding community in the 1960s, when it was commonly used to describe the process of improving one's physical form through exercise and diet. The term has since gained broader usage, and can be used more generally to describe enhancing anything, whether it's physical or non-physical, by improving it. Overall, "buff up" originated from the world of bodybuilding and has since evolved into a popular expression used to mean enhancing something to make it better, leaner, or more efficient.