Mmastodon CultureBooks first seen 3 h ago, last 1 h ago, peak #5

1785 slang dictionary defines 'tiffing' in surprising ways

Original: TIFFING. Eating or drinking out of meal time, disputing or falling out; also lying with a wench, A tiff of punch, a smal

An entry from Francis Grose's 1785 'Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue' is circulating online, defining 'tiffing' as eating or drinking outside meal times, quarrelling or falling out, and also an illicit liaison, with a 'tiff' meaning a small bowl of punch. Readers are sharing and discussing the colourful archaic slang term.

Why now: People are amused by the many meanings of an obscure 18th-century slang word, particularly as a possible origin of the modern word 'tiff'.

Francis GroseDictionary of the Vulgar Tongue

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Rank over time, top of the chart is #1. 2 snapshots from 3 h ago to 1 h ago.

Evidence

• TIFFING. Eating or drinking out of meal time, disputing or falling out; also lying with a wench, A tiff of punch, a small bowl of punch. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785) -- # books # literature # dictionaries # history # society #… · TheVulgarTongue@zirk.us · 2

API: https://socialmediatrends-api.osmike.com/v1/trends/3558944