• TIFF
n. 1. liquor, esp. poor or weak liquor …a1635 colloq. or sl.
n. 2. manner of dressing, or arranging, get-up; the way in which the hair, wig, etc., is dressed …1703 obs. rare
n. 3. a slight outburst or fit of temper, pettishness, or ill-humour …1727
n. 4. a sip or little drink of punch or other diluted liquor …1727 colloq. or sl.
n. 5. a slight or petty quarrel; an argument, a row; a temporary ill-humoured disagreement …1754
n. 6. a short outburst of laughter, etc. …1858 rare
n. 7. a struggle; a task requiring a great muscular effort …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
n. 8. the act of struggling in a wanton or dallying manner …Bk1905 Sc.
vb. 1. to attire, to dress, to deck out, to titivate one’s person, hair, etc. …a1225 obs. exc. Eng. dial.
vb. 2. to put in order, to arrange; to prepare, to make, to construct …1300s obs.
vb. 3. to be idly employed, to be busy about trifles …c1440 obs.
vb. 4. to have a petty quarrel …1727
vb. 5. to drink; esp. to drink slowly or in small portions; to sip …1769 colloq. or sl.
vb. 6. to lunch …1803 Anglo-Indian
vb. 7. to hinder, to delay, to struggle against; to struggle physically; to make a great effort …1899 Sc. & Eng. dial.
vb. 8. to fall headlong …Bk1905 Eng. dial. obs.
vb. 9. to excite; to irritate …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
vb. 10. to scold, to rate; to betray hurt feelings passionately …Bk1905 Sc. & Eng. dial.
• TIFFED
adj. tricked out, adorned .,.1303 obs.
• TIFFEN
vb. to toughen, to make tough; to become tough …1800 Eng. dial. obs.
• TIFFETY-TAFFETY
adj. florid, bombastic; overdressed; dainty, delicate, fastidious …1595 nonce word obs.
• TIFFIN
n. 1. 1800 Anglo-Indian – in India and neighbouring eastern countries: a light midday meal; luncheon
n. 2. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – a moment of time
vb. 1866 Anglo-Indian – to lunch
• TIFFISH
adj. ready to take offense; pettish, peevish …1855 colloq. rare
• TIFFLE
n. 1. 1892 Sc. – a slight breeze or ripple of wind
n. 2. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – a scuffle, a tussle, a fight
vb. 1. 1388 obs. – to dress up, to adorn, to deck or trick out (in a trifling or time-wasting way)
vb. 2. c1440 obs. exc. Eng. dial. – to busy oneself idly; to trifle; to potter about
vb. 3. 1703 Eng. dial. – to grow weary, to tire; to become exhausted or worn out
vb. 4. 1811 chiefly Eng. dial. – to disorder, to disarrange; to entangle; to ravel
vb. 5. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – to wrangle, to dispute; to tussle
vb. 6. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – to do any small fidgety job requiring care or nicety
• TIFFLER
n. 1. c1400 obs. exc. Eng. dial. – a trifler, one who potters about
n. 2. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – one who does little jobs cleverly
• TIFFLE-TAFFLE
vb. to work in a trifling, idle fashion …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
• TIFFLING
adj. requiring care and nicety …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
• TIFFLING TOITY
adv. raining in a drizzling, slopping manner …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
• TIFF-TAFFLE
vb. to talk in a bantering manner; to joke; to make repartee …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
• TIFFURE
n. a dressing up, adornment …1303 obs. rare
• TIFFY
adj. 1. 1810 Sc. & Eng. dial. – given to fits of ill-temper; petulant, touchy, irritable, pettish, ill-humoured, uncertain in temper
adj. 2. 1867 Sc. – in good condition; well, healthy
n. 1899 nautical sl. – an engine room artificer
• TIFFY-TAFFY
n. 1. B1900 Eng. dial. – a trifler, a dawdler; one who works in an idle, trifling fashion
n. 2. B1900 Eng. dial. – a difficult piece of work
vb. B1900 Eng. dial. – to dawdle, to trifle
• TIFLE
vb. 1. 1641 Eng. dial. obs. – to entangle, to ravel; to disorder, to tumble or disarrange; to ruffle
vb. 2. 1703 Eng. dial. – to grow weary, to tire; to become exhausted or worn out
vb. 3. 1809 Eng. dial. – to trifle, to idle, to potter about; to do a little work in a trifling, idle way
vb. 4. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – to do any small fidgety job requiring care or nicety
vb. 5. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – to tumble or toss about as a restless person does in bed; to act as a swivel-joint in a piece of mechanism
vb. 6. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – to wrangle, to dispute; to tussle
• TIFLING
adj. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – turning from side to side; changeable, not to be relied on
• TIFT
adj. 1300s Sc. obs. – prepared, ready; set in order; provided, furnished
n. 1. 1717 Sc. & N. Eng. dial. – condition, order; condition of mind, mood, humour
n. 2. 1751 Sc. & Eng. dial. – a slight fit of ill-humour or offendedness; a petty quarrel or disagreement
n. 3. 1751 Sc. – a small draught of liquor
n. 4. a1765 Sc. & Eng. dial. – a puff, breath, or slight blast of wind
n. 5. 1813 Sc. obs. – a whiff, a sniff
n. 6. 1835 Sc. – a period of time, esp. with the idea of tediousness or duration
n. 7. 1835 Sc. – an inspiration, afflatus
n. 8. 1841 Sc. – sudden flight; great haste, precipitation
n. 9. 1853 Eng. dial. – a state of gasping or panting; a condition of breathlessness from exertion
n. 10. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – a short suppressed cough
n. 11. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – a small boat
vb. 1. 1300s obs. exc. Eng. dial. – to prepare, to make ready, to put in order; to dress
vb. 2. 1722 Sc. & Eng. dial. – to drink, to quaff
vb. 3. 1777 obs. exc. Eng. dial. – to have a tiff or petty quarrel
vb. 4. 1790 Eng. dial. – to dress up or out; to decorate, to array in one’s best clothing, etc.
vb. 5. 1807 Eng. dial. – to breathe hard, to pant
vb. 6. 1899 Sc. – to beat like a pulse; to throb; to tingle with pain
vb. 7. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – to cough
vb. 8. Bk1905 Sc. – to eject anything from the lips
• TIFTER
n. 1. 1877 Sc. & Eng. dial. – a fit of bad temper or ill-humour; a quarrel; a fight
n. 2. 1899 Eng. dial. – a struggle, hard endeavour; anything requiring muscular exertion or effort
n. 3. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – a hurry, bustle
n. 4. Bk1905 Sc. – a quandary; a difficult or disagreeable position
n. 5. Bk1905 Sc. & N. Eng. dial. – a stiff breeze with a tossing sea; a short time of stormy weather; exposure to stormy weather
n. 6. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – the scrubbing of a house from top to bottom
• TIFTIE
adj. inspired, uplifted …1869 Sc.
• TIFTING
n. a scolding or quarrelling bout; a scolding …Bk1905 Sc. & Eng. dial.
• TIFTY
adj. given to fits of ill-temper; petulant, touchy, irritable, uncertain in temper …Bk1905 Sc. & Eng. dial.
• TIG
int. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – a call to pigs
n. 1. 1721 Sc. & N. Eng. dial. – a touch; usually a light but significant touch, a tap or pat
n. 2. 1773 Sc. – a pet; a fit of ill-humour
n. 3. 1784 Eng. dial. – a yearling sheep before it has been shorn
n. 4. 1811 Sc. – a sharp blow; the last blow in sparring
n. 5. 1895 Sc. – a hard bargain; a deal
n. 6. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – a little pig
vb. 1. 1599 Sc. – to interfere; to meddle; to do have to do with
vb. 2. 1634 – to trifle; to dally with
vb. 3. 1802 Eng. dial. – to annoy one by petty provocations
vb. 4. 1834 Eng. dial. – to run from place to place as if chased
vb. 5. Bk1905 Sc. obs. – to work in a careless or trifling manner
vb. 6. Bk1905 Sc. – to dally; to give a gentle pat or caress
vb. 7. Bk1905 Sc. – to take a sudden whim; to go off in a pet
• TIG AND TAR
vb. to act forcefully or wantonly; to use force and violence …c1470 Sc. obs.
• TIG AND TIE
phr. a close shave, ‘touch and go’, a narrow escape …Bk1905 Sc.
• TIG’D
adj. tired, weary …1889 Sc.
• TIGER
n. 1. 1500-20 – a person of fierce, cruel, rapacious, or bloodthirsty disposition; also, a person of very great activity, strength, or courage
n. 2. c1817 sl. obs. – a smartly-liveried boy acting as groom or footman; formerly often provided with standing-room on a small platform behind the carriage, and a strap to hold on by; generally, an outdoor boy-servant
n. 3. 1827 sl. obs. – a vulgarly or obtrusively overdressed person
n. 4. 1838 Amer. dial. – a gambling establishment; the game of faro
n. 5. 1849 sl. obs. – a sponger, a hanger-on, a parasite; rake, a swell-mobsman
n. 6. 1856 US sl. – a shriek or howl (often the word ‘tiger’) terminating a prolonged and enthusiastic cheer; a finishing touch, a final burst
n. 7. 1865 sl. – a menial labourer
n. 8. 1865 Aust. sl. – a sheep shearer
n. 9. 1889 – a hand at poker: it consists of the lowest possible combination of five cards – these are two, three, four, five, and seven
n. 10. 1905 Amer. dial. – a place where liquor is sold and consumed illegally
n. 11. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – ale or malt liquor of any kind
n. 12. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – bacon
n. 13. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – wood with knots in it
n. 14. 1929 nautical sl. – a captain’s personal steward
vb. 1892 Sc. – to look fierce
• TIGERANTIC
adj. of the nature of a tiger; cruel, bloodthirsty, fierce, relentless …a1704 obs.
• TIGER HOUSE
n. a place where liquor is sold and consumed illegally …1965 Amer. dial.
• TIGER-HUNTER
n. a gambler …1896 US sl.
• TIGERISH
adj. 1. 1573 – cruel, bloodthirsty, fierce, relentless
adj. 2. 1831 – loud, flashy
• TIGERISM
n. vulgar ostentation or affectation; pretentiousness; swagger …1836
• TIGER JUICE
n. strong or inferior liquor; whisky, esp. illegally made whisky; moonshine …1950 Amer. dial.
• TIGERKIN
n. 1. 1849 – a cat
n. 2. 1867 – a diminutive tiger; a tiger cub
• TIGERLING
n. 1. 1858 – a young or diminutive tiger
n. 2. 1858 – a young boy
• TIGERLY
adj. tigerish; cruel, bloodthirsty, fierce, relentless …1633 rare
• TIGER MILK
n. strong or inferior liquor; whisky, esp. illegally made whisky; moonshine …1928 Amer. dial.
• TIGER-MOUTH
n. the snapdragon; the foxglove …1886
• TIGERNESS
n. ferocity …1535 obs.
• TIGEROCIOUS
adj. having the qualities of the tiger; cruel, bloodthirsty, fierce, relentless … 1874 nonce word
• TIGER OF CHASE
n. the cheetah …1784 obs.
• TIGER OF THE SEA
n. a barracuda …1939 Amer. dial.
• TIGEROUS
adj. cruel, bloodthirsty, fierce, relentless …1532 obs. rare
• TIGER PISS
n. strong or inferior liquor; whisky, esp. illegally made whisky; moonshine …1968 Amer. dial.
• TIGERS
n. wide-striped trousers …Bk1942 Amer. sl.
• TIGER’S MILK
n. 1. 1850 sl. – gin
n. 2. 1879 Amer. dial. – strong or inferior liquor; whisky, esp. illegally made whisky; moonshine
• TIGER’S MOUTH
n. 1. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – the foxglove
n. 2. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – the snapdragon
• TIGER SPIT
n. strong or inferior liquor; whisky, esp. illegally made whisky; moonshine …1974 Amer. dial.
• TIGER’S SWEAT
n. strong or inferior liquor; whisky, esp. illegally made whisky; moonshine …1985 Amer. dial.
• TIGER SWEAT
n. strong or inferior liquor; whisky, esp. illegally made whisky; moonshine …1932 Amer. dial.
• TIGER TAIL
n. a mountain lion …1930 Amer. dial.
• TIGERY
adj. cruel, bloodthirsty, fierce, relentless …1859 rare
• TIGGEL
vb. to tamper with; to undermine …1812 Sc. obs.
• TIGGITY-BOO
adj. satisfactory …1939 Brit. sl.
• TIGGLE-TAGGLE
vb. to be a long time making a bargain; to haggle …Bk1905 Sc. obs.
• TIGGY
adj. pettish …Bk1905 Sc.
• TIGGY-HOGS
n. wood-lice, sow bugs, millipedes …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
• TIGHT
adj. 1. c1435 obs. rare – dense, as a wood or thicket
adj. 2. 1598 obs. exc. Eng. dial. – of a person: competent, capable, able, skilful; alert, smart; lively, vigorous, stout
adj. 3. 1669 Sc. & Eng. dial. obs. – cunning, clever; dexterous, skilled, expert
adj. 4. 1685 Sc. – tidy, neat, in good order
adj. 5. 1697 arch. or Eng. dial. – neat in appearance; neatly and carefully dressed; trim, tidy, smart; of a neat compact build, well-made, shapely
adj. 6. 1790 Sc. obs. – of ale or beer: pleasing to the taste, good, strong
adj. 7. 1805 sl. – mean, ungenerous
adj. 8. 1809 Sc. & Eng. dial. – in good health, well; sound, whole
adj. 9. 1824 Sc. & Eng. dial. obs. – prepared; ready for action
adj. 10. 1830 sl. – drunk, tipsy
adj. 11. 1865 Sc. & Eng. dial. – in financial difficulties, hard up; of money: scarce
adj. 12. 1890 Eng. dial. – difficult, hard
adj. 13. 1899 Eng. dial. – considerable
adj. 14. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – sharp, sudden
adj. 15. 1909 sl. – in billiards: of pockets: having a small opening compared with the diameter of the balls
adj. 16. 1909 sl. – in billiards: said of balls when they are in contact
adj. 17. 1928 US sl. – of a person: tough and unyielding
adj. 18. 1950s Amer. sl. – close, friendly
adj. 19. 1980s US students’ sl. – attractive; cool
adv. 1790 Sc. & Eng. dial. – tightly; smartly, quickly; strenuously, soundly
n. 1. c888 obs. – good breeding; behaviour; bringing up, rearing, training, education
n. 2. 1777 Eng. dial. – weight
vb. 1. a1000 obs. – to draw, to pull
vb. 2. a1000 obs. – to train, to discipline
vb. 3. c1000 obs. – to attract, to entice, to allure
vb. 4. c1205 obs. – to go, to proceed, to advance
vb. 5. a1300 obs. – to prepare, to get ready; to devise, to contrive
vb. 6. c1475 obs. – to set or deck with jewels
vb. 7. 1610 Sc. obs. – to make close; to tighten; to stretch
vb. 8. 1790 Eng. dial. – to weigh, to poise; to ascertain the weight of anything by poising it in the hand
vb. 9. 1895 Eng. dial. – to put in order; to make tidy or neat
• TIGHT AS A CUP
adj. 1892 Eng. dial. – very close or tight
• TIGHT AS A DRUM
adj. 1830 US sl. – drunk
• TIGHT AS A LORD
adj. 1830 US sl. – drunk
• TIGHT AS A MINK
adj. 1830 US sl. – drunk
• TIGHT AS A NEWT
adj. 20C Brit. military sl. – heavily drunk; as saturated as the amphibious newt
• TIGHT AS A RAT-TRAP
adj. 1901 Eng. dial. – very close or tight
• TIGHT AS A TICK
adj. 1830 sl. – drunk
• TIGHT AS DICK’S HATBAND
adj. 1909 Amer. dial. – very stingy
• TIGHT AS KELSEY’S NUTS
adj. 1950s US sl. – very parsimonious; stingy
• TIGHT AS O’REILLY’S BALLS
adj. 1950s US sl. – very parsimonious; stingy
• TIGHT AS REILLY’S BALLS
adj. 1950s US sl. – very parsimonious; stingy
• TIGHT AS WAX
adj. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – very close or tight
• TIGHT-BOUND
adj. 1824 Sc. – strong and well made
• TIGHT COOPER
n. a cooper who makes casks for liquids …1889
• TIGHTEN
vb. 1. 1786 obs. rare – to make oneself tidy
vb. 2. 1886 Eng. dial. – to hasten
• TIGHTEN A PERSON’S TETHER
vb. to restrict, to restrain …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
• TIGHTEN ONE’S ACTION
vb. to begin behaving in a more effective or positive manner …1976 US sl.
• TIGHTER THAN A DUCK’S ARSE
adj. very drunk or drug-intoxicated …2002 UK sl.
• TIGHT-EYE
n. sleep …1938 Amer. dial.
• TIGHT-FISTED
adj. parsimonious, close-fisted …1844
• TIGHT-GAL
n. a close female friend …1965 Amer. dial.
• TIGHTING
n. persuading, enticement …c1000 obs.
• TIGHT IN THE BUSH
adj. said of a very careful or stingy person …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
• TIGHT IN THE HAFT
adj. said of a very careful or stingy person …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
• TIGHTISH
adj. 1. 1786 – rather ‘stiff’ or difficult; somewhat difficult to accomplish
adj. 2. 1890 Eng. dial. – considerable in amount; numerous
adj. 3. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – in financial straits, wanting money
adj. 4. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – well, in good health
adv. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – severely, smartly
• TIGHT JEFF
n. well-rehearsed patter …1960s African-American sl.
• TIGHT-LACED
adj. strict in the observance of rules or usages of morality or propriety …1741
• TIGHTLY
adv. 1. 1790 Sc. & Eng. dial. obs. – deftly, neatly; cleverly, dexterously; properly, correctly
adv. 2. 1825-9 – neatly, tidily, smartly
adv. 3. 1863 Sc. & Eng. dial. – severely, sharply
adv. 4. 1873 Sc. – promptly, quickly; actively, smartly
adv. 5. 1883 Sc. – thoroughly, closely; minutely
• TIGHT-MAN
n. a close male friend …1965 Amer. dial.
• TIGHT MONEY
n. 1866 US sl. – money when the supply is scarce, esp. during a period of high interest rates
• TIGHTNESS
n. the condition of being tipsy …1864 sl.
• THE TIGHT REIN
n. good advice …1980s Aust. sl.
• THE TIGHTS
n. 1970s US sl. – a penniless or financially grim condition
• TIGHT-SHOE DAY
n. Saturday; market day …1950 Amer. dial.
• TIGHT UP
vb. to put in order; to tidy; to dress oneself neatly and tidily …Bk1905 Sc. & Eng. dial.
• TIGHTWAD
n. a mean person …1906 sl., orig. & chiefly US
• TIGHT-WAISTED
adj. of boots or shoes: tight or narrow at the instep; close-fitting …1901 Eng. dial.
• TIGLET
n. the metal end of a shoe-lace or boot-lace …Bk1905 Eng. dial.
• TIGMATEEZE
vb. to pull one about …Bk1905 Sc. obs.
• TIGNON
n. a brightly coloured handkerchief worn as a head covering by women …1884 Amer. dial.
• TIGRESS
n. 1. 1700 – a fierce, cruel, or tiger-like woman
n. 2. Bk1913-17 Amer. dial. – a treacherous person
n. 3. 1836 obs. – a vulgarly or obtrusively dressed woman
• TIG RIGS
n. Bk1905 Eng. dial. – pigs
• TIGRINE
adj. 1656 – pert. to or resembling a tiger, esp. in marking or colouring
• TIGRISH
adj. 1573 – cruel, bloodthirsty, fierce, relentless
• TIGROID
adj. 1901 – resembling a tiger; marked like a tiger
• TIGROLOGY
n. 1822-56 nonce word – the branch of zoology which treats of tigers
• TIGROUS
adj. 1532 obs. rare – cruel, bloodthirsty, fierce, relentless
• TIGSER
n. Bk1905 Eng. dial. sl. – a person who is quick in motion
• TIGSUM
adj. 1880 Sc. – hindersome; wearisome, tedious
• TIG-TAG
adv. Bk1905 Sc. – in suspense
vb. 1. 1643 Sc. – to continue in reciprocal action; to bicker; to haggle in bargaining
vb. 2. 1643 Sc. – to drive to and fro, to keep a person running to and fro
vb. 3. 1776 Sc. obs. – to trifle; to be very busy while accomplishing nothing of importance; to shilly-shally
• TIG-TAGGING
n. 1825 Sc. – the act of haggling
• TIG-TAILED
adj. 1853 Sc. – ragged; of a woman whose petticoat trails: draggle-tailed
• TIG-TIRE
vb. Bk1905 Sc. – to annoy; to make sport by teasing
• TIG-TOW
vb. 1864 Sc. to play fast and loose with; to act capriciously; to dally with; to behave irresponsibly or immorally
• TIG WITH
vb. 1889 Sc. – to meddle, to interfere
• TIJUANA BIBLE
n. 1950s US sl.- a pornographic book of the most revolting sort
• TIJUANA TAXI
n. 1960s US citizens’ band radio usage – a police car
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Updated: February 28, 2023
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