Jiff
/dʒɪf/noun
A very short period of time.
Did you know?Unlike words such as “disaster” or “glamour,” jiff has no securely documented occult or ancient meaning; its origin is considered unknown.
Etymological Timeline
18th Century
English
jiffy
“An extremely short, unspecified period of time; the earliest recorded form of the expression.”
1780s
English
in a jiffy
“Very soon or in a moment; an informal expression recorded in English.”
19th Century
English
jiff
“A shortened or variant form of jiffy, meaning a brief moment.”
Modern English
English
jiff
“An informal word for a very short time, as in “back in a jiff.””