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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Quotation dates: 1808, 1938

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NIFFLE, v. Also reduplic. form nif-niffle. To trifle, to act or speak in a trifling manner (Fif. 1808 Jam.). Ppl.adj. nifflin, trifling, piffling. Also in Eng. dial.Fif. 1808 Jam.:
He's a nifflin' body.Edb. 1938 J. F. Fergus Fancies 139:
Alane I'd hae to fecht A fish o' sic a strength an' wecht. On sic a nifflin', skimpy line.

[Eng. has nifle, a trifle, c.1386, nifling, trifling, 1649, conjectured to be a corruption of Lat. nihil, nothing, but the Sc. word may be of independent imit. orig. Cf. naffle s.v. Nyaff, v., 5. and Niff-naff.]

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