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单词 nifle
释义

niflen.

Brit. /ˈnʌɪfl/, U.S. /ˈnaɪf(ə)l/
Forms: Middle English nyfil, Middle English 1600s nyfle, Middle English–1500s nifel, Middle English–1500s nyfel, Middle English–1500s nyfyl, Middle English– nifle, 1500s niffel, 1500s niffle, 1500s nyful, 1600s nifell, 1600s nifille, 1800s naifle, 1800s nyfle.
Origin: Of uncertain origin.
Etymology: Origin uncertain. The Middle French form nifle in quot. 1530 at sense 1b is not otherwise attested and probably shows a borrowing from English. The form nifels in quot. 1463 at sense 2 probably shows the English word in an Anglo-Norman context.The possibility that the word is < post-classical Latin nichil (see nichil n.) is supported by the resemblance of the phrases nifles in a bag (see sense 1b) and nichels in a bag (see quot. 1584 at nichil n. 1; compare also quot. 1670 at sense 1). But the change of -ch- (whether /x/, /k/, or //) to f which this theory would require is difficult to explain. Ernest Weekley ( Trans. Philol. Soc. (1910) 311) suggested derivation from a variant of Anglo-Norman nefle , Old French, Middle French nefle , nesfle , etc., medlar, worthless object (see mespil n.). The use of the word for ‘medlar’ (often called by opprobrious names in 16th and 17th cent. English) or other fruit as a synonym for a worthless or trivial thing is well attested in French. But apart from an instance of nife in Anglo-Norman (see Anglo-Norman Dict. s.v.), French forms with medial i are not well attested. Middle Eng. Dict. suggests as a parallel Old French nieule , niule (also niele ) a pastry, a thing of little value. On phonological grounds this is an unlikely etymon, since the -u- appears to be vocalic. On any theory, it is possible that there was phonological influence from trifle n., with which this word is often paired.
In later use English regional (northern). Now rare.
1.
a. Originally: †a trifling or fictitious tale, a jest (obsolete). In later use: a trifle; a thing of little or no value.Common c1550–1650, often in rhyming collocation with trifle.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > importance > unimportance > [noun] > that which is unimportant > of little worth
ivy-leafc1000
needle?c1225
sloec1250
peasea1275
strawc1290
bean1297
nutc1300
buttonc1330
leekc1330
trifle1375
cress1377
goose-wing1377
sop1377
niflec1395
vetcha1400
a pin's head (also point)c1450
trump1513
plack1530
toy1530
blue point1532
grey groat1546
cherry-stone1607
jiggalorum1613
candle-enda1625
peppercorn1638
sponge1671
sneeshing1686
snottera1689
catchpenny1705
potato1757
snuff1809
pinhead1828
traneen1837
a hill of beans1863
gubbins1918
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > disregard for truth, falsehood > fabrication of statement or story > a false or foolish tale > [noun]
spellc888
triflea1250
talea1325
vanity1340
a tale of waltrot1377
fablec1384
niflec1395
triflerya1400
truffc1430
jest1488
winter's talec1555
winter story1646
galley-packet1786
galley-yarn1874
cuffer1887
ploda1903
scuttlebutt yarn1918
just-so story1922
c1395 G. Chaucer Summoner's Tale 1760 He serued hem with nyfles and with fables.
a1450–1500 ( Libel Eng. Policy (1926) 349 Apes and japes and marmusettes taylede, Nifles, trifles, that litelle have availed.
c1450 (?a1400) Wars Alexander (Ashm.) 3807 (MED) Þis solayne sope if I sup, quethire sustene it may Þe menbris of þe Messedones..Or I my-selfe sall be serued, & þai sitt with nyfils?
a1529 J. Skelton Magnyfycence (?1530) sig. Div I am yet..as full of tryfyls Nil nichelum nihil anglice nyfyls.
1533 J. Heywood Mery Play Iohan Iohan sig. B.ii I wolde ye had harde the tryfyls The toys, the mokkes, the fables, and the nyfyls That I made thy husbande to beleue and thynke.
1562 Apol. Priv. Masse (1850) 22 You drive men to these trifles that the world may know you hang in nifels.
1610 P. Holland tr. W. Camden Brit. i. 663 Might I not be thought..to catch at clouds, and fish for Nifles.
1631 R. Brathwait Eng. Gentlewoman 20 What a shop of guga nifles hang vpon one backe?
1657 J. Watts Of Baptism in Scribe, Pharisee ii. 159 I..will give over spending my precious time about your nifles and trifles.
1681 W. Robertson Phraseologia generalis (1693) 1258 Nifles and trifles; vain tales of Robin Hood; aniles fabulæ.
1868 E. Waugh Sneck-bant 89 She then took Betty's basket and crammed it with fruit, and with all sorts of sweet ‘nifles’.
1868 J. C. Atkinson Gloss. Cleveland Dial. 354 Nifle, a trifle, a thing of no worth or importance.
1928 A. E. Pease Dict. Dial. N. Riding Yorks. 86/2 It's nobbut a nifle.
b. nifles in a bag: a collection of items of little value. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > disadvantage > uselessness > [noun] > that which is useless > useless person or thing > thing or object > collectively
nifles in a bag1530
lumber1552
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 850/2 Nyfels in a bagge, de tout nifles.
1622 J. Mabbe tr. M. Alemán Rogue ii. 160 No wise man will aduenture his person for nifles in a bagge.
2. A light or flimsy article of dress; (perhaps) a kerchief of fine material. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > [noun] > light or flimsy
nifle1463
1463 in Statutes of Realm (1816) II. 401 (MED) Que nulle persone..vende en ascune part dedeinz cest Roialme ascune lavne, Nifels, umple, ou ascun autre manere dez couverchiefs dount le price dun plite passera x s.]
1463–4 Rolls of Parl. V. 505/2 That noo persone..selle..eny Lawne, Nyfels, Umple, or eny other manere of Kerchiefs.
a1500 (a1460) Towneley Plays (1897–1973) 377 (MED) Nell With hir nyfyls of crisp and of sylke, Tent well youre twyfyls youre nek abowte as mylke.
3. An insignificant person. Obsolete. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > importance > unimportance > [noun] > one who is unimportant
unknownc1390
pawnc1450
semi-cipher?1550
bauble1570
Jack with the feather1581
nobody1583
winterling1585
squash1600
rush candle1628
niflec1635
nullity1657
nonentity1710
featherweight1812
underscrub1822
nyaff1825
small fish1836
no-account1840
little fish1846
peanut1864
commonplacer1874
sparrow-fart1886
Little Willie1901
pipsqueak1905
nebbish1907
pie-biter1911
blob1916
smallie1930
no-count1932
zilch1933
Mickey Mouse1935
muzhik1945
nerd1951
nothingburger1953
nerk1955
non-person1959
no-mark1982
c1635 H. Glapthorne Lady Mother (1959) iii. i. 64 Will you goe... what stayes this nifle for.
a1849 E. Elliott in Poet. Wks. (1876) I. 324 Woe to the scrimp that ventures near him, woe! He, she, or it—‘swag's nifle, skink, or trull’, Shall find a bed, or Wakefield's gaol is full!
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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