puff the magic dragon

English

Etymology

From the name of a song, Puff, the Magic Dragon (1963), reinterpreting puff as a verb. The authors of the song have repeatedly denied that it is about marijuana.

Pronunciation

• Audio (AU)

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Verb

puff the magic dragon (third-person singular simple present puffs the magic dragon, present participle puffing the magic dragon, simple past and past participle puffed the magic dragon)

1. (slang, humorous) To smoke marijuana.
   • 2006, Richard Greener, The Lacey Confession:

     Sure, he puffed the magic dragon — who didn't? — but no cocaine, no heroin.