'puffin-esque' originates from the English word 'puffin', with the suffix '-esque' added to denote resemblance or characteristic.

'puffin' is derived from Middle English 'pophyn', which referred to a type of seabird, and '-esque' is a suffix of French origin used to form adjectives.

Initially, 'puffin' referred to a specific seabird, and '-esque' was used to denote resemblance, leading to the modern meaning of 'resembling a puffin'.