tiff 2 (tif)

[Prob. in part a reduction of tift1, but ult. He tiff'd his punch, and went to rest. W. Combe , Dr. Syntax's Tours, i. 5. II. in trans. To lunch. [Anglo-Indian.] tiff2 (tif), n. [A reduction of tift1 , n., or from the related tiff : see tiff2 , v . Cf. tift1 , n. Cf. also tip3 .] 1. A draught of liquor; a "drop": as, a tiff of brandy. What say you to a gla of white wine, or a tiff of punch, by way of whet? Fielding, Amelia, viii. 10. Sipping his tiff of brandy punch with great solemnity. Mrs. Cent livre, Beau's Duel, ii. 3. tiffing, tiffin (tif'ing, tif'in), n. [Verbal n. of tiff 2, v.] 1. A sipping; a drinking. [Prov. Eng.]-2. A luncheon; lunch; a slight repast between breakfast and dinner; in India, a characteristic repast of curried dishes, chutney, and fruit. [Anglo-Indian, usually in the provincial form tiffin.] Let's have it for tiffin ; very cool and nice this hot weather. Thackeray , Vanity Fair, iv. After a pleasant chat we proceeded to the Hong kong hotel for tiffin. Lady Bra ey, Voyage of Sunbeam, II. xxi. Inclined tiffish (tif'ish), a. [ tiff3 + -ish1 .] to peevishne ; petulant. [Colloq.] tift i (tift), ties n. Perhaps Norw. teft , drawing the breath, wind or scent of an animal; cf. tev , awing the breath; teva , sniff, breathe: see tif 2.1 tiff 2.] 1. A sniff; whiff; breath. Four and twanty siller bells Wer a' tyed till his mane, And yae tift o' the norland wind, They tinkled ane by ane. Lord Thomas and Fair Annet (Child's Ballads, II. 128). 2. A draught of liquor: same as tiff 2, 1. Halli well .