put off (put of)

An excuse; a shift for evasion or delay. There be so many put - offs , so many put-byes, so many respects and considerations of worldly wisdom. Latimer, Sermon of the Plough. "We want t' man who came here for hiding last night; t' man called John Whitehead." "He came not here last night." "That's a put - off . He came this morning then." A. E. Barr , Friend Olivia, iii. putois (F. pron. pü-two'), n. [F. putois (ML. putacius ), a polecat, its fur, a brush made of its fur, L. putere, stink: see putid. ] A brush supposed to be made of the hair of the polecat, used by painters of ceramic ware.