subs. (colloquial).—Twaddle: esp. mincing, pretentious, affected twaddle. Hence as verb (colloquial) = to trifle pretentiously; to twaddle with a purpose and an air. PIFFLER = an earnest futility, i.e., a person with a moral end in view, and nothing to back it but a habit of talking, or writing sentimental rubbish. [In JAMIESON, ‘Piffer’ = ‘to do peevishly,’ or ‘in a feeble or trifling way’; while ‘pifferin’ = ‘trifling, insignificant.’]
Verb (old).—2. To filch; and 3 (old) = to be squeamish.—BAILEY (1728); HALLIWELL (1847).
