nifle Now dial.
(ˈnaɪf(ə)l)
Forms: 4, 7 nyfle, 5–6 nyfel, -yl, 6 -ul, nifel, 5–7 (8–9 dial.) nifle: 6 niffel, niffle.
[Of obscure origin: perh. ad. med.L. nichil nothing (see nichil), influenced by trifle, with which it is often combined. There appears to be no other trace of the F. nifle given by Palsgrave. In mod. dialect the verb nifle, to trifle, is in common use (given by Ash, 1775).]
1. A trifle; a thing of little or no value; † a trifling or fictitious tale. (Common c 1550–1650).
| c 1386 Chaucer Sompn. T. 52 He served hem with nyfles and with fablis. 1436 Libel Eng. Policy in Pol. Poems (Rolls) II. 172 Apes, and japes, and marmusettes taylede, Nifles, trifles, that litelle have availede. 1526 Skelton Magnyf. 1157, I am yet..as full of tryfyls, Nil, nihilum, nihil, anglice nyfyls. 1533 J. Heywood A Mery Play 434, 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 Holland Camden's Brit. i. 663 Might I not be thought..to catch at clouds, and fish for Nifles? 1657 J. Watts Baptism 159, I..will give over spending my precious time about your nifles and trifles. 1868 Waugh Sneck-Bant 89 She then took Betty's basket and crammed it with fruit, and with all sorts of sweet ‘nifles’. |
| Phr. 1530 Palsgr. 850/2 Nyfels in a bagge, de tout nifles. 1622 Mabbe tr. Aleman's Guzman d'Alf. ii. 160 No wise man will adventure his person for nifles in a bagge. |
b. Applied to a person.
rare—1.
| 1635 [Glapthorne] Lady Mother iii. ii. in Bullen O. Pl. II. 164 Will you goe?.. What stayes this nifle for? |
† 2. Some light or flimsy article of attire.
Obs.| c 1460 Towneley Myst. xxx. 323 And nell with hir nyfyls of crisp and of sylke, Tent well youre twyfyls youre nek abowte as mylke. 1463–4 Rolls of Parlt. V. 505/2 That noo persone..selle in any parte within this Reame eny Lawne, Nyfels, Uimple, or eny other manere of Kerchiefs. |