niff-naffn.

Brit.

/ˈnɪfnaf/, U.S.

/ˈnɪfˌnæf/, Scottish English

/ˈnɪfnaf/, Irish English

/ˈnɪfnæf/

Forms: English regional 1800s nif-naf, 1800s– niff-naff; Scottish 1800s– niff-naff, 1900s– gniff-gnaff, 1900s– nyiff-nyaff Brit.

/ˈnjɪfnjaf/, U.S.

/ˈnjɪfˌnjæf/, Scottish English

/ˈnjɪfnjaf/; Irish English (northern) 1800s– nhiff-nhaff, 1900s– niff-naff, 1900s– nyiff-nyaff Brit.

/ˈnjɪfnjaf/, U.S.

/ˈnjɪfˌnjæf/, Irish English

/ˈnjɪfnjæf/.

Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: niff-naff v.

Etymology: < niff-naff v. Compare kniff-knaff n., nifle n., nyaff n.

Chiefly Scottish, English regional (northern), and Irish English (northern).

A small person or thing; a trifle, a knick-knack. In later use also as a mass noun: junk, clutter; petty concerns or detail.

ΘΚΠ

the world > life > the body > bodily height > shortness > [noun] > person

dwarfeOE

congeonc1230

go-by-ground?a1300

smalla1300

shrimpc1386

griga1400

gruba1400

murche1440

nirvil1440

mitinga1450

witherling1528

wretchocka1529

elf1530

hop-o'-my-thumb1530

pygmy1533

little person1538

manikin1540

mankin1552

dandiprat1556

yrle1568

grundy1570

Jack Sprat1570

squall1570

manling1573

Tom Thumb1579

pinka1585

squib1586

screaling1594

giant-dwarf1598

twattle1598

agate1600

minimus1600

cock sparrow1602

dapperling1611

modicum1611

scrub1611

sesquipedalian1615

dwarflinga1618

wretchcock1641

homuncio1643

whip-handle1653

homuncule1656

whippersnapper1674

chitterling1675

sprite1684

carliea1689

urling1691

wirling1691

dwarf man1699

poppet1699

durgan1706

short-arse1706

tomtit1706

Lilliputian1726

wallydraigle1736

midge1757

minikin1761

squeeze-crab1785

minimum1796

niff-naff1808

titman1818

teetotum1822

squita1825

cradden1825

nyaff1825

weed1825

pinkeen1850

fingerling1864

Lilliput1867

thumbling1867

midget1869

inch1884

shorty1888

titch1888

skimpling1890

stub1890

scrap1898

pygmoid1922

lofty1933

peewee1935

smidgen1952

pint-size1954

pint-sized1973

munchkin1974

the mind > attention and judgement > importance > unimportance > [noun] > that which is unimportant > of little importance or trivial

gnatc1000

ball play?c1225

smalla1250

triflec1290

fly1297

child's gamec1380

motec1390

mitec1400

child's playc1405

trufferyc1429

toyc1450

curiosity1474

fly-winga1500

neither mass nor matins1528

boys' play1538

nugament1543

knack?1544

fable1552

nincety-fincety1566

mouse1584

molehill1590

coot1594

scoff1594

nidgery1611

pin matter1611

triviality1611

minuity1612

feathera1616

fillip1621

rattle1622

fiddlesticka1625

apex1625

rush candle1628

punctilio1631

rushlight1635

notchet1637

peppercorn1638

petty John1640

emptiness1646

fool-fangle1647

nonny-no1652

crepundian1655

fly-biting1659

pushpin1660

whinny-whanny1673

whiffle1680

straw1692

two and a plack1692

fiddle1695

trivial1715

barley-strawa1721

nothingism1742

curse1763

nihility1765

minutia1782

bee's knee1797

minutiae1797

niff-naff1808

playwork1824

floccinaucity1829

trivialism1830

chicken feed1834

nonsensical1842

meemaw1862

infinitesimality1867

pinfall1868

fidfad1875

flummadiddle1882

quantité négligeable1885

quotidian1902

pipsqueak1905

hickey1909

piddle1910

cream puff1920

squat1934

administrivia1937

chickenshit1938

cream puff1938

diddly-squat1963

non-issue1965

Tinkertoy1972

the world > space > extension in space > measurable spatial extent > smallness > [noun] > that which is small > a small thing

minutea1450

minim1590

mite1594

titmouse1596

moteling1605

atom1633

thingling1652

long-little1653

parvitude1659

bodikin1668

eschantillon1720

niff-naff1808

smolt1808

runt1819

titty-tottya1825

featherweight1838

thinglet1839

shable1842

thumb1854

nubbin1857

speckle1882

teeny-weeny1894

hickey1909

tiddler1937

pinhead1951

1808 J. Jamieson Etymol. Dict. Sc. Lang. (at cited word) Niffnaffs, articles that are small and of little value.

1822 J. Hogg Three Perils of Man II. vii. 229 ‘Wha's this stripling that rides the good dun mare.’.. ‘That's my bit niff-naff of a callant.’

1834 C. Sharp Bishoprick Garland sig. I3^v Come, take my pills—they cure all ills... Take a little of my nif-naf.

1896 F. M. T. Palsgrave List Words & Phrases Hetton-le-Hole (at cited word) Niffnaffs, nick-nacks.

1929 Scots Mag. Oct. 13 His wife showed him..a fine ivory fan... ‘He's aye sendin' niff-naffs like that to Leeb.’

1953 M. Traynor Eng. Dial. Donegal 197/1 Niff-naff,..a trifling thing or matter.

1989 Athletics Today 26 Oct. 27/1 It's got a general secretary, Mike Farrell, who looks after the niff naff.

2000 Western Daily Press (Bristol) (Electronic ed.) 30 Dec. If you can bear to chuck out—or store if you must—the niff-naff of your previous lifestyle, you can indulge in the current passion for the pared-down look.

This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, September 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

niff-naffv.

Brit.

/ˈnɪfnaf/, U.S.

/ˈnɪfˌnæf/, Scottish English

/ˈnɪfnaf/, Irish English

/ˈnɪfnæf/

Forms: 1700s– niff-naff, 1800s nifnaf (Scottish), 1900s– nyiff-nyaff (Irish English (northern)).

Origin: Of uncertain origin. Perhaps a variant or alteration of another lexical item. Etymons: English niffle , nifle n.

Etymology: Origin uncertain; perhaps a reduplicated formation < niff- < niffle, variant of nifle n., with the same vowel variation as zig-zag , shilly-shally , etc., expressing see-saw action; compare also the form nif-niflin' in quot. a1878 at nevel v. Compare niffle v., kniff-knaff n.

Chiefly Scottish, English regional (northern), and Irish English (northern).

intransitive. To trifle, mess around; to act aimlessly or foolishly.

ΚΠ

1728 A. Ramsay There's my Thumb iii, in Poems II. 124 Oh my dear Lassie, it is but Daffin To had thy Woer up ay niff naffin.

1815 J. Ruickbie Poems 97 Some toil'd for meal, an' some for maut, While some were just niff-naffin'.

1894 R. O. Heslop Northumberland Words at Niffnaff He niffnaffed on at the job.

1945 C. H. Ward-Jackson R.A.F. Slang made Easy 45 Niff-naff, don't, stop fussing and get cracking.

1953 M. Traynor Eng. Dial. Donegal 197 Niff-naff,..to trifle; to potter about; to act foolishly or aimlessly. Nyiff-nyaffin' about the house.

Derivatives

† niff-naffing adj. Obsolete rare

ΚΠ

1813 Scotchman 94 It shaws him to be a nifnafan taupie.

1817 J. B. Burges Advertisement iii. i. 186 Gi' o'er, ye niff-naffing carl ye! or I'll mak short Work wi' ye.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

单词	niff-naff
释义	niff-naffn. Brit. /ˈnɪfnaf/, U.S. /ˈnɪfˌnæf/, Scottish English /ˈnɪfnaf/, Irish English /ˈnɪfnæf/ Forms: English regional 1800s nif-naf, 1800s– niff-naff; Scottish 1800s– niff-naff, 1900s– gniff-gnaff, 1900s– nyiff-nyaff Brit. /ˈnjɪfnjaf/, U.S. /ˈnjɪfˌnjæf/, Scottish English /ˈnjɪfnjaf/; Irish English (northern) 1800s– nhiff-nhaff, 1900s– niff-naff, 1900s– nyiff-nyaff Brit. /ˈnjɪfnjaf/, U.S. /ˈnjɪfˌnjæf/, Irish English /ˈnjɪfnjæf/. Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: niff-naff v. Etymology: < niff-naff v. Compare kniff-knaff n., nifle n., nyaff n. Chiefly Scottish, English regional (northern), and Irish English (northern). A small person or thing; a trifle, a knick-knack. In later use also as a mass noun: junk, clutter; petty concerns or detail. ΘΚΠ the world > life > the body > bodily height > shortness > [noun] > person dwarfeOE congeonc1230 go-by-ground?a1300 smalla1300 shrimpc1386 griga1400 gruba1400 murche1440 nirvil1440 mitinga1450 witherling1528 wretchocka1529 elf1530 hop-o'-my-thumb1530 pygmy1533 little person1538 manikin1540 mankin1552 dandiprat1556 yrle1568 grundy1570 Jack Sprat1570 squall1570 manling1573 Tom Thumb1579 pinka1585 squib1586 screaling1594 giant-dwarf1598 twattle1598 agate1600 minimus1600 cock sparrow1602 dapperling1611 modicum1611 scrub1611 sesquipedalian1615 dwarflinga1618 wretchcock1641 homuncio1643 whip-handle1653 homuncule1656 whippersnapper1674 chitterling1675 sprite1684 carliea1689 urling1691 wirling1691 dwarf man1699 poppet1699 durgan1706 short-arse1706 tomtit1706 Lilliputian1726 wallydraigle1736 midge1757 minikin1761 squeeze-crab1785 minimum1796 niff-naff1808 titman1818 teetotum1822 squita1825 cradden1825 nyaff1825 weed1825 pinkeen1850 fingerling1864 Lilliput1867 thumbling1867 midget1869 inch1884 shorty1888 titch1888 skimpling1890 stub1890 scrap1898 pygmoid1922 lofty1933 peewee1935 smidgen1952 pint-size1954 pint-sized1973 munchkin1974 the mind > attention and judgement > importance > unimportance > [noun] > that which is unimportant > of little importance or trivial gnatc1000 ball play?c1225 smalla1250 triflec1290 fly1297 child's gamec1380 motec1390 mitec1400 child's playc1405 trufferyc1429 toyc1450 curiosity1474 fly-winga1500 neither mass nor matins1528 boys' play1538 nugament1543 knack?1544 fable1552 nincety-fincety1566 mouse1584 molehill1590 coot1594 scoff1594 nidgery1611 pin matter1611 triviality1611 minuity1612 feathera1616 fillip1621 rattle1622 fiddlesticka1625 apex1625 rush candle1628 punctilio1631 rushlight1635 notchet1637 peppercorn1638 petty John1640 emptiness1646 fool-fangle1647 nonny-no1652 crepundian1655 fly-biting1659 pushpin1660 whinny-whanny1673 whiffle1680 straw1692 two and a plack1692 fiddle1695 trivial1715 barley-strawa1721 nothingism1742 curse1763 nihility1765 minutia1782 bee's knee1797 minutiae1797 niff-naff1808 playwork1824 floccinaucity1829 trivialism1830 chicken feed1834 nonsensical1842 meemaw1862 infinitesimality1867 pinfall1868 fidfad1875 flummadiddle1882 quantité négligeable1885 quotidian1902 pipsqueak1905 hickey1909 piddle1910 cream puff1920 squat1934 administrivia1937 chickenshit1938 cream puff1938 diddly-squat1963 non-issue1965 Tinkertoy1972 the world > space > extension in space > measurable spatial extent > smallness > [noun] > that which is small > a small thing minutea1450 minim1590 mite1594 titmouse1596 moteling1605 atom1633 thingling1652 long-little1653 parvitude1659 bodikin1668 eschantillon1720 niff-naff1808 smolt1808 runt1819 titty-tottya1825 featherweight1838 thinglet1839 shable1842 thumb1854 nubbin1857 speckle1882 teeny-weeny1894 hickey1909 tiddler1937 pinhead1951 1808 J. Jamieson Etymol. Dict. Sc. Lang. (at cited word) Niffnaffs, articles that are small and of little value. 1822 J. Hogg Three Perils of Man II. vii. 229 ‘Wha's this stripling that rides the good dun mare.’.. ‘That's my bit niff-naff of a callant.’ 1834 C. Sharp Bishoprick Garland sig. I3^v Come, take my pills—they cure all ills... Take a little of my nif-naf. 1896 F. M. T. Palsgrave List Words & Phrases Hetton-le-Hole (at cited word) Niffnaffs, nick-nacks. 1929 Scots Mag. Oct. 13 His wife showed him..a fine ivory fan... ‘He's aye sendin' niff-naffs like that to Leeb.’ 1953 M. Traynor Eng. Dial. Donegal 197/1 Niff-naff,..a trifling thing or matter. 1989 Athletics Today 26 Oct. 27/1 It's got a general secretary, Mike Farrell, who looks after the niff naff. 2000 Western Daily Press (Bristol) (Electronic ed.) 30 Dec. If you can bear to chuck out—or store if you must—the niff-naff of your previous lifestyle, you can indulge in the current passion for the pared-down look. This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, September 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022). niff-naffv. Brit. /ˈnɪfnaf/, U.S. /ˈnɪfˌnæf/, Scottish English /ˈnɪfnaf/, Irish English /ˈnɪfnæf/ Forms: 1700s– niff-naff, 1800s nifnaf (Scottish), 1900s– nyiff-nyaff (Irish English (northern)). Origin: Of uncertain origin. Perhaps a variant or alteration of another lexical item. Etymons: English niffle , nifle n. Etymology: Origin uncertain; perhaps a reduplicated formation < niff- < niffle, variant of nifle n., with the same vowel variation as zig-zag , shilly-shally , etc., expressing see-saw action; compare also the form nif-niflin' in quot. a1878 at nevel v. Compare niffle v., kniff-knaff n. Chiefly Scottish, English regional (northern), and Irish English (northern). intransitive. To trifle, mess around; to act aimlessly or foolishly. ΚΠ 1728 A. Ramsay There's my Thumb iii, in Poems II. 124 Oh my dear Lassie, it is but Daffin To had thy Woer up ay niff naffin. 1815 J. Ruickbie Poems 97 Some toil'd for meal, an' some for maut, While some were just niff-naffin'. 1894 R. O. Heslop Northumberland Words at Niffnaff He niffnaffed on at the job. 1945 C. H. Ward-Jackson R.A.F. Slang made Easy 45 Niff-naff, don't, stop fussing and get cracking. 1953 M. Traynor Eng. Dial. Donegal 197 Niff-naff,..to trifle; to potter about; to act foolishly or aimlessly. Nyiff-nyaffin' about the house. Derivatives † niff-naffing adj. Obsolete rare ΚΠ 1813 Scotchman 94 It shaws him to be a nifnafan taupie. 1817 J. B. Burges Advertisement iii. i. 186 Gi' o'er, ye niff-naffing carl ye! or I'll mak short Work wi' ye. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022). < n.1808v.1728
随便看	nonspecific urethritis nonspecifically nonspecificity nonspeech nonspherical nonspiritous nonsporting nonstandard nonstarter nonstarters nonstationaries nonstationarity nonstationary nonstatistical nonstatus nonstatutory nonsteady nonstellar nonsteroid nonsteroidal nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agent nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug nonsteroidals nonsteroids nonstick