buf·fet¹ / bəˈfā/ • n. 1. a meal consisting of several dishes from which guests serve themselves: [as adj.] a cold buffet lunch. 2. a room or counter in a station, hotel, or other public building selling light meals or snacks.3. a cabinet with shelves and drawers for keeping dinnerware and table linens.buf·fet² / ˈbəfit/ • v. (-fet·ed, -fet·ing) [tr.] (esp. of wind or waves) strike repeatedly and violently; batter: the rough seas buffeted the coast. ∎  knock (someone) over or off course: he was buffeted from side to side. ∎  (often be buffeted) fig. (of misfortunes or difficulties) afflict or harm (someone) repeatedly or over a long period: they were buffeted by a major recession.

buffet1 blow. XIII. — OF. (now dial.) buffet, dim. of buffe, of imit. orig.
So buffet vb. XIII.

buffet2 sideboard, cupboard in a recess XVIII; refreshment bar XIX. — F., of unkn. orig.