Tiff
/tɪf/noun
A minor quarrel or fit of irritation, or, chiefly in historical usage, a small alcoholic drink.
Did you know?English has two largely separate historical senses of “tiff”: a petty quarrel and a small drink, and neither has a securely established ultimate origin.
Etymological Timeline
18th Century
English
tiff
“A slight quarrel, fit of irritation, or bad-tempered mood; the origin is recorded as uncertain.”
18th Century
English
tiff
“A small drink of liquor, a separate historical sense whose origin is also uncertain.”
19th Century
English
tiff
“A minor quarrel or disagreement, becoming the dominant everyday meaning.”
Modern English
English
tiff
“A brief, petty argument or disagreement.”