piffle

English

WOTD – 4 December 2009

Etymology

Unknown, 1847. Perhaps blend of piddle + trifle, perhaps puff ((onomatopoeia, puff of air)) + -le (diminutive).[1]

Pronunciation

  • (UK, US) IPA(key): /ˈpɪf.əl/
  • (file)
  • Rhymes: -ɪfəl

Noun

piffle (uncountable)

  1. Nonsense, foolish talk.

Synonyms

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Verb

piffle (third-person singular simple present piffles, present participle piffling, simple past and past participle piffled)

  1. To act or speak in a futile, ineffective, or nonsensical manner.
  2. To waste, to fritter away.
  3. (dated) To be squeamish or delicate.

Synonyms

Translations

References

  1. piffle” in Douglas Harper, Online Etymology Dictionary, 2001–2019.
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