The birds were hiding in the dells out of the wind, some of the strongest of them pecking at acorns and manzanita berries, but most were perched on low twigs, their breast feathers puffed out and keeping one another company through the hard time as best they could.

Fat; puffed out.

The N.E.D. quotes this passage with a reference to the adjective 'flaberkin' = puffed out, puffy, and a suggestion that it is akin to the substantive 'flab' = something thick, broad, fat.

But in her eyes he found compassion and such tenderness as awed him; and then, as a light is puffed out, they were the eyes of a friendly stranger.

The friar puffed out his cheeks and sighed: "'Twas a goodly ass, my son, a fair and gentle beast and of an easy gait, and I am one that loveth not to trip it in the dust.

One of them stopped, and putting his trumpet down close to Martin's ear, puffed out his little, round cheeks, and blew a blast that made him jump.

It wasn't wet a bit in that hot old storm we had, either," continued Bluff again, as be contemplated his quarry, and then puffed out with honest pride.

" Then she again reverted to the manufacturer's wife, declared that little Maurice, however sturdy he might look, was simply puffed out with bad flesh; and she remarked that it would be a terrible blow for the parents if they should lose that only son.

If he knows that Christ died for him, that there is a future beyond the grave, it makes all the difference between despair and hope, between misery and consolation, between the helpless frailty of a being that is puffed out like a candle, and the joyful power of an endless life.

"Where's the boy gone to?" puffed out a labored voice.

But now, as Grimes, his red cheeks puffed out, his little eyes snapping in a way that many knew meant danger (with a large D)as the rich Corn-chandler, whose word was law to a good many, turned and confronted this lounging, long-legged individual,such as remained closed round them in a ring, in keen expectation of what was to follow.

It opens its shells, then shuts them rapidly; and, each time this happens, a cloud of young Oysters is puffed out like smoke.

Men wore their coats cut somewhat after the same shape: their trunk hose were tight, but round the waist they were puffed out.

Sheriff Lawley had on his stiffest professional air and Si Hardscrabble's chest was puffed out like a pouter pidgeon.

In my case my wrists were puffed out level with my hands.

Rushing forth, Leonard found Blaize with his cheeks puffed out and his mouth applied to the stone, into which he was blowing with all his force, and producing the above-mentioned extraordinary noise.

She said,"Now let us write it; one straight mark, then the upper lip puffed out at the top."

His figure sagged, his eyes puffed out, and he waited in silent terror.

I was but a boy, but I was captain of that company, puffed out with pride on that daywhy, a cambric needle would have burst me all to pieces.

he was positive that my cheeks had puffed out perceptibly after the first two months.

He leaned forward, judging the position of the lamp-chimney by the heat on his face, and puffed out his cheeks to blow.

The woods are full of the clatter of arms; the ringing of bucks' horns in flight; the stampede of mailed feet up and down the glades; and a great dust of battle is puffed out into the open, till the last of the ice is beaten away and the cleared branches take up their regular chant.

I always think of turkeys as strutting around a farmyard with their heads held back and all puffed out in front.

"Down there in the willows where I crossed the creekI came down that low, saggy place in the hillI saw a lot of chickens or somethingpartridges, maybe you call themroosting in a tree with their feathers all puffed out.

He was a heavy, fat fellow, wearing a jerkin and hose of fiery yellow, greatly puffed out at his arms and thighs, and profusely dotted with small red tufts, sewed on, which looked as if innumerable tongues were protruding from him.