1911 Encyclopædia Britannica/Buff

BUFF (from Fr. buffle, a buffalo), a leather originally made from the skin of the buffalo, now also from the skins of other animals, of a dull pale yellow colour, used for making the buffcoat or jerkin, a leathern military coat. The old 3rd Foot regiment of the line in the British army (now the East Kent Regiment), and the old 78th Foot (now 2nd battalion Seaforth Highlanders), are called the “Buffs” and the “Ross-shire Buffs” respectively, from the yellow or buff-colour of their facings. The term is commonly used now of the colour alone.