a. colloq. and dial. Also spiffin, dial. spiving. [Cf. next and such forms as rattling, ripping, topping, etc.] Excellent, first-rate, very good, etc.; fine or smart in, or with regard to, dress or appearance. Also as adv.
Sleigh Derby. Gloss. (1865) has Spiffyn, work well done.
1872. Routledge’s Ev. Boy’s Ann., 287/2. The vulgar Pupkins said,… ‘It was spiffing!’
1879–. in general dial. use (Eng. Dial. Dict.).
1884. G. Moore, Mummer’s Wife (1887), 145. ‘Have you got good places for your posters?’ ‘Spiffing,’ answered the man.
