jiffy (plural jiffies)
(colloquial) A very short, unspecified length of time. [from 1780.]
(computing) A unit of time defined by the frequency of its basic timer – historically, and by convention, 0.01 of a second, but some computer operating systems use other values.
(electronics) The length of an alternating current power cycle (1/60 or 1/50 of a second).
(physics) The time taken for light to travel a specified distance in a vacuum, usually one centimetre, but sometimes one foot or the width of a nucleon.
(UK) Short for jiffy bag, a padded envelope.
• (short, unspecified length of time)
(standard): instant, minute, moment, second, trice
(colloquial): mo, sec, tick
• jif
• jiff
Jiffy (plural Jiffies)
Alternative form of Jiffy bag.
Source: Wiktionary
Jif"fy, n. Etym: [Perh. corrupt. fr. gliff.] [Written also giffy.]
Definition: A moment; an instant; as, I will be ready in a jiffy. [Colloq.] J. & H. Smith.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
11 June 2025
(adjective) having relatively few calories; “diet cola”; “light (or lite) beer”; “lite (or light) mayonnaise”; “a low-cal diet”
The word “coffee” entered the English language in 1582 via the Dutch “koffie,” borrowed from the Ottoman Turkish “kahve,” borrowed in turn from the Arabic “qahwah.” The Arabic word qahwah was traditionally held to refer to a type of wine.
