Green’s Dictionary of Slang

swaggering, arrogant.

1602		J. Cooke How A Man May Choose A Good Wife From A Bad Act IV: A huffing wench y’faith.
1622		Beaumont & Fletcher Beggar’s Bush III iv: Now, huffing sir, what’s your name?
1635		Long Meg of Westminster 41: Containing how she used James Dickins, that was called Huffing Dick.
c.1640		J. Shirley Captain Underwit III i: He tooke this huffing trade upon him.
1664		C. Cotton Virgil Travestie (1765) Bk I 13: A huffing Jack, a plund’ring Tearer, / A vap’ring Scab, and a great Swearer.
1672		J. Phillips Maronides (1678) V 6: I never knew such huffing tear-smocks.
1694		J. Crowne Married Beau Prologue: Many a Gallant who looks huffing big, Ows all his Granduer to his Swinging Wig.
1705–07		N. Ward Hudibras Redivivus I:5 10: Any Tongue-pad that could flatter, / Might make a supream Legislator, / Or huffing Bully, Pimp, or Pander, / Serve for a General Commander.
1735		Pope ‘Satires of Dr. Donne’ Works II 157: O my fair mistress, Truth! shall I quit thee, For huffing, braggart, puft Nobility?
1797		Bridges Burlesque Homer (4th edn) II 316: This huffing, cuffing varlet.