- piffle
- piffle 1847, of unknown origin, perhaps an alteration of trifle, by influence of piddle, etc. Or perhaps onomatopoeic of a puff of air, with a diminutive suffix.
Etymology dictionary. 2014.
piffle
Look at other dictionaries:
Piffle — Pif fle, n. Act of piffling; trifling talk or action; piddling; twaddle. [Dial. or Slang] Futile piffle. Kipling. [Webster 1913 Suppl.] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Piffle — Pif fle, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Piffled}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Piffling}.] To be sequeamish or delicate; hence, to act or talk triflingly or ineffectively; to twaddle; piddle. [Dial. or Slang] [Webster 1913 Suppl.] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
piffle — [n] nonsense balderdash*, baloney*, bull*, bunk*, drivel, empty talk, foolishness, futile talk, gibberish, hogwash*, hooey*, hot air*, jive*, palaver, poppycock*, prattle, rubbish, silliness, trash*, useless words; concepts 230,388,633 … New thesaurus
piffle — ► NOUN informal ▪ nonsense. ORIGIN imitative … English terms dictionary
piffle — [pif′əl] n. [< Brit dial.] Informal talk, writing, action, etc. regarded as insignificant or nonsensical interj. nonsense piffling [pif′liŋ] adj … English World dictionary
piffle — [“pifl] 1. n. nonsense. □ What utter piffle! □ The entire report was piffle from beginning to end. 2. exclam. a mild exclamation or expression of distress. (Usually Piffle!) □ You a stockbroker? Piffle! … Dictionary of American slang and colloquial expressions
piffle — [[t]pɪ̱f(ə)l[/t]] N UNCOUNT (disapproval) If you describe what someone says as piffle, you think that it is nonsense. [INFORMAL] He talks such a load of piffle. Syn: rubbish … English dictionary
piffle — I. intransitive verb (piffled; piffling) Etymology: perhaps blend of piddle and trifle Date: circa 1878 to talk or act in a trivial, inept, or ineffective way II. noun Date: 1890 trivial nonsense < pseudo scientific piffle > … New Collegiate Dictionary
piffle — A word, possibly derived from the North of England, (er, that s where I m from, anyway *g*), that means nonsense or rubbish. mojobob: I m a really groovy and fabulous person. mini mojobob: Piffle! … Dictionary of american slang
piffle — A word, possibly derived from the North of England, (er, that s where I m from, anyway *g*), that means nonsense or rubbish. mojobob: I m a really groovy and fabulous person. mini mojobob: Piffle! … Dictionary of american slang
