[12] It referred to the colour of undyed buffalo leather, such as soldiers wore as some protection:[13] an eyewitness to the death in the Battle of Edgehill (1642) of Sir Edmund Verney noted "he would neither put on arms [armour] or buff coat the day of the battle".

[16] The word buff meaning "enthusiast" or "expert" (US English) derives from the colour "buff", specifically from the buff-coloured uniform facings of 19th-century New York City volunteer firemen, who inspired partisan followers among particularly keen fire watchers.

In 16th- and 17th-century European cultures, buff waistcoats ("vests" in American English), were considered proper casual wear.

Clothing depicted on John Bull, a national personification of Britain in general and England in particular,[19] in political cartoons and similar graphic works, has often been buff coloured.

[citation needed] The Royal East Kent Regiment was nicknamed "The Buffs" from the colour of their waistcoats.

", popularised by Rudyard Kipling in his 1888 work Soldiers Three, has its origins during 2nd Battalion's garrison duties in Malta.

Adjutant Cotter, not wanting to be shown up in front of his former regiment, the 21st Royal (North British) Fusiliers, spurred his men on with the words: "Steady, the Buffs!

[13] The funnels of the RMS Titanic and all other ships of the White Star Line were designated to be "buff with a black top" in order to indicate their ownership.

The Bibby Line and the Fyffes Line are two of several firms to use the same "buff with a black top" scheme as White Star, but with a similar lack of certainty as to the exact shade used and how this differed from the famous White Star scheme.

As well as being a colour used by the United States Army Institute of Heraldry, buff is also recognised as a tincture by the Canadian Heraldic Authority.