Green’s Dictionary of Slang

a bully, a braggart, a boaster.

1664		S. Butler Hudibras Pt II canto 3 line 1034: To be expos’d, i’ th’ end, to suffer/ By such a braggadocio huffer.
1675		C. Cotton Scoffer Scoff’d (1765) 224: Know then (my Brace of ill-bred Huffers).
1682		Venus Betray’d n.p.: Welcome mask-teazer, peevish gamester, huffer; / All fools, but politicians, we can suffer [N].
1770		Lord Hales Ancient Scot. Poetry n.p.: Note on ‘Seven Deadly Sins,’ line 34 Huffers (or threateners), boasters and they who pick quarrels [F&H].
1803		‘C. Caustic’ Petition Against Tractorising Trumpery 71: Step forth thou Potent Prince of Puffers! Thou modern Hercules of huffers!
1864		Launceston Examiner (Tas.) 5 Apr.3/2: Old Huffer [...] Old Fogey.