E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Puff-ball.
A sort of fungus. The word is a corruption of Puck or Pouk ball, anciently called Puck-fist. The Irish name is Pooka-foot. (Saxon, Pulkerfist, a toadstool.) Shakespeare alludes
to this superstition when Pros’pero summons amongst his elves—
