Trifle
/ˈtraɪ.fəl/noun
A thing of little value or importance; also, to waste time on something insignificant.
Did you know?The word ultimately comes from Old French *trufle* / *truffe*, tied to the idea of joking or mocking, so its history carries the energy of something treated as a joke rather than something serious.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*trep-
“to turn, twist, or be restless”
Latin
Latin
trībulāre
“to harass, trouble, or oppress”
Old French
Old French
trufle
“mockery, joke; something of little worth”
Middle English
English
triflen
“to act frivolously, waste time, or treat lightly”
Modern English
English
trifle
“a thing of little importance; to spend time on trivial matters”