| 释义 |
giff-gaff Sc. and north. dial.|ˈgɪf-gæf|
Also 6 giffe-gafe, gyffe-gaffe, 8 giff-goff, 9 gif-gaf(f.
[reduplication of give v. Cf. MDu. ghivegave.]
1. Mutual giving, mutual help; give and take.
1549Latimer 3rd Serm. bef. Edw. VI (Arb.) 89 Some what was geuen to them before, and they muste nedes geue somewhat againe, for giffe gafe was a good felow, this gyffe gaffe led them clene from iustice. 1624Bp. R. Montagu New Gagg 92 Giff-gaff is a good fellow. 1787Grose Prov. Gloss. s.v., Giff-goff makes good fellowship. 1790Shirrefs Poems Gloss., Giff-gaff, open-heartedness, familiarity, frankness, or mutual condescension. 1815Scott Guy M. xl, I played at giff gaff with the officers. 1818― Hrt. Midl. xvi, Gif-gaf makes gude friends, ye ken. 1824― Redgauntlet xii, You must give me your [word] to be private in the matter—giff-gaff, you know. 1895Dundee Advertiser in Daily News 22 Mar. 7/2 The ‘giff-gaff’ principle of making friends.
2. Interchange of remarks; promiscuous talk. (Cf. gaff n.2)
1787Grose Prov. Gloss., Giff-gaff, unpremeditated discourse. 1855Robinson Whitby Gloss., Giff-gaff, the random conversation which strangers fall into when they meet in going the same road. 1894Crockett Lilac Sunbonnet 45 The shrill ‘giff-gaff’ of their colloquy.
Hence † giff-gaffing vbl. n. = sense 1.
1606W. Birnie Kirk-Buriall (1833) 35 The which gif-gaffing with God is the verie simoniacal sin of Anani and Saphira. |