cuff

Cuff refers to the end portion of a garment’s sleeve or pant leg, typically folded and sewn to finish the edge, or a band around a limb that serves a functional or decorative purpose. In clothing, cuffs protect the fabric edge, help secure the sleeve at the wrist, and come in various styles, including barrel cuffs (buttoned), French cuffs (requiring cufflinks), and convertible cuffs (buttons or cufflinks). Trousers may have cuffs at the bottom hem for style or durability, or be worn with rolled cuffs.

In security and law enforcement, cuff is short for handcuffs, metal restraints placed around the wrists and linked by a chain or hinge, used to immobilize a detainee.

As a verb, cuff means to strike with the flat of the hand, or to strike with a blunt object, and is used in expressions such as “cuffing” someone.

In medicine and medical devices, a cuff is a band or inflatable bladder that encircles a limb or device. Examples include the blood pressure cuff used to measure pressure around the upper arm, and the inflatable cuff on an endotracheal tube that seals the airway.