Chiefly dial. [app. onomatopœic: cf. TAFFLE.] trans. To disorder, disarrange, entangle, ravel; tiffle out, to ravel out.
1811. Willan, Words W. Riding, in Archæol. (1814), XVII. 161. Tifle, v. to entangle, to mix and knot threads together.
1815. Monthly Mag., 1 March, 125/1. Essex Dialect, Tiffle, to disarrange.
1825. Brockett, N. C. Words, Tifle, tyfell, to entangle,… to ruffle.
1880. Plain Hints Needlework, 121. Tifflings … is used in some parts to describe the ravellings or threads. ‘To tiffle out,’ to ravel out or unweave.
