1580s, from obsolete French rebuffer "to check, snub," from Italian ribuffare "to check, chide, snide," from ribuffo "a snub," from ri- "back" (from Latin re-, see re-) + buffo "a puff," of imitative origin (compare buffet, v.). Related: Rebuffed; rebuffing.

1610s, from rebuff, v., or from Middle French rebuffe or Italian ribuffo.