Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1960 (SND Vol. V). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

JAFFLE, v.

1. To tire or wear out. Hence ppl.adj. jaffled, “fatigued looking, down in body and clothes” (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 281; ‡Kcb. 1959).Kcb.⁴ 1900:
He's geyly jaffled oot.

2. Appar. to trifle, fritter away time. Dmf. 1835 Letters T. Carlyle to his Brother (Marrs 1968) 376:
The danger all over Annandale (perhaps less in Annan than elsewhere) is that miserable habit of jaffling, in all senses of the word.