subs. (old):—A petty quarrel; a tantrum.
1623. C. BUTLER, The Feminine Monarchy, c. 5. Fol. L. 4. Your remedy is to knocke out the Bees vpon the mantle betweene two single Rests, and to set a fitter Hiue ouer them: but this is not to be done before the swarming-houres be past, lest some of the Bees take a MIFFE, and goe home againe.
1749. FIELDING, Tom Jones, Bk. III. ch. vi. When a little quarrel, or MIFF, as it is vulgarly called, arose between them.
1768. GOLDSMITH, The Good-Natured Man, iv. It’s the worst luck in the world, in anything but white. I knew one Bett Stubbs, of our town, that was married in red; and, as sure as eggs is eggs, the bridegroom and she had a MIFF before morning;.
1816. SCOTT, The Antiquary, v. In accomplishing an arrangement between tendencies so opposite, little MIFFS would occasionally take place.
Verb. (old).—1. To offend; and (2) to fall out.
Adj. (old).—Angered; MIFFED.
1802. W. TAYLOR, in ROBBERDS’S Memoir, i. 447. You are right about Burnett, but being MIFF with him myself, I would not plead against him in the least particular.
1825. SCOTT, Diary, in Life, VIII. 133. This is not the way to make her pluck a bawbee and Lord M—, a little MIFFED in turn sends the whole correspondence to me.
