Tiffle
/ˈtɪfəl/noun
To eat or drink a little at a time, especially in Scots and northern English dialects.
Did you know?Tiffle is chiefly dialectal, and its exact origin is uncertain; it may be an expressive diminutive related to tiff, an old word for a small drink or snack.
Etymological Timeline
Early Modern English
English
tiff
“A small drink or light refreshment; the precise origin is uncertain.”
18th Century
Scots
tiffle
“To eat or drink sparingly or repeatedly in small quantities.”
18th–19th Century
Scots
tiffle
“A dialect verb associated with nibbling, tasting, or taking little drinks.”
19th Century
English dialects
tiffle
“To eat or drink a little at a time.”
Modern English
English
tiffle
“A rare Scots or dialectal verb meaning to consume small amounts.”