Home › Words › P › puffbackpuffbackpuffback means any bird of the genus Dryoscopus.EtymologyFrom puff + back.nounAny bird of the genus Dryoscopus.The (unintended) emission of soot or smoke from a furnace or boiler into a structure, typically caused by a burner failing to ignite properly, allowing a buildup of fumes which explode and expel soot or smoke into the structure.Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).