▪ I. † eriff Obs.
[Of unknown etymology; the forms eiress, eress, eriss, in Dicts. appear to represent the same word.]
1. A canary-bird two years old.
| c 1690 B. E. Dict. Cant. Crew. 1727 Bradley Fam. Dict. s.v. Canary Bird, Those that exceed two, are named Erisses. 1736 Bailey, Erisses, eresses. |
2. ‘A rogue just initiated’. (New Cant. Dict. 1725.)
▪ II. eriff
dial. form of hairif.
| 1796 Agric. Surv. Staffordsh. 95 Eriff, Galium Aparine. |