subs. (old).—(1) Small beer; SWIPES (q.v.). Hence (2) a moderate draught: A TIFF OF PUNCH = (GROSE) a small bowl of punch. As verb = to drink: TIFFING = ‘eating and drinking out of meal time’ (GROSE). Also TIFFIN (Anglo-Indian) = a meal between breakfast and dinner.
1654. Witt’s Recreations.
| As the conduits ran | |
| With claret, at the coronation, | |
| So let your channels flow with single TIFF. |
1661. A. BROME, Songs, 165.
| That too shall quickly follow, if | |
| It can be rais’d from Strong or TIFFE. |
1701. J. PHILIPS, Splendid Shilling, 15. With scanty offals, and small acid TIFF.
1751. FIELDING, Amelia, VIII. x. What say you to a glass of white wine, or a TIFF OF PUNCH by way of whet?
1772. R. GRAVES, The Spiritual Quixote, XI. xiv. Dr. Slash … was smoaking his pipe over a TIFF OF PUNCH.
1812. COMBE, Dr. Syntax, I. v. He TIFF’D his punch, and went to rest.
1815. SCOTT, Guy Mannering, i. 111. Sipping his TIFF of brandy punch with great solemnity.
1847–8. THACKERAY, Vanity Fair, iv. Let’s have it for TIFFIN; very cool and nice this hot weather.
1878. LADY BRASSEY, A Voyage in the ‘Sunbeam,’ II. xxi. After a pleasant chat we proceeded to the Hongkong hotel for TIFFIN.
2. (colloquial).—A slight quarrel. Also as verb = (a) to have words, and (b) to go peevishly; whilst TIFFY (or TIFFISH) = petulant; EASILY RILED (q.v.); TIFFING (GROSE) = disputing or falling out.
1700. CONGREVE, The Way of the World, ii. 4. Mil. Ay, poor Mincing TIFT and TIFT all the morning.
1753. RICHARDSON, The History of Sir Charles Grandison, iv. 29. My lord and I have had another little—TIFF, shall I call it? it came not up to a quarrel.
1777. SHERIDAN, The School for Scandal, i. 2. We TIFTED a little going to church, and fairly quarrelled before the bells had done ringing.
18[?]. LANDOR, New Style. She TIFF’D at Tim, she ran from Ralph.
1840. THACKERAY, A Shabby Genteel Story, i. There had been numerous TIFFS and quarrels between mother and daughter.
1858. National Review, vii. 395. In comparison with such words or gestures, George IV.’s quarrel with Brummel was an ordinary TIFF.
3. (venery).—To copulate; see RIDE (B. E. and GROSE): cf. TIFFITY-TAFFETY GIRLS.
