Forms: α. 3–5 trufle, (3–4 truyfle), 4 trufel, truffle, (trewful), 4–5 truful, 5 -fulle, truffulle, truffille. β. 4 trofle, trofil, 4–5 trofel, (5 trowful). γ. 4 tryffel, 4–5 trifil(e, -ful, (4 tryuol, trefle, 4–5 -fele), 4–6 tryfel, -fyl, -fle, 4–7 (8 Sc.) triffle, 5 tryfil, trifelle, triffol, 5–6 tryfell(e, 6 -fille, -full(e, -fyll(e, (tryefull), trifill, -fulle, triffelle, triffill(e, 7 triffel, tryffel, -le, 4– trifle. [ME. trufle, etc., a. OF. trufle (13th c. in Godef.), treufle, truffle (1370), parallel forms of trufe, truffe, ‘moquerie, tromperie’ (1265 in Godef.), = It. truffa, ‘a cozening, cheating, conicatching’ (Florio), Pr., obs. Sp. and Pg. trufa, ‘a gibe, a iesting or ieering’ (Minsheu); of uncertain origin. The phonology of the word in English presents difficulties; but trufle, with ü, would give later tryfle, triffle; and u sometimes varied dialectally with o, as in the ME. trofel. The short ĭ indicated by ff in tryffel, triffol, triffle, appears from the 14th to the 18th c.; but trifle with single f is ambiguous, and does not show when trĭfle became trīfle.
For the ulterior etymology, Diez was inclined to identify F. truffe, trufle with truffe, Pr. trufa (Littré), a TRUFFLE, a subterranean edible fungus. But it is app. only in F. (and Prov.) that the two words have the same form, and no connection of sense has been ascertained: see TRUFFLE.]
† 1. A false or idle tale, told (a) to deceive, cheat, or befool, (b) to divert or amuse; a lying story, a fable, a fiction; a jest or joke; a foolish, trivial, or nonsensical saying. Obs.
The shades of sense cannot always be distinguished.
α. a. 1225. Ancr. R., 106. Þeos ant oðre trufles þet he bitrufleð monie men mide.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 8613. Wanne me sede him of suche wondres … to trufle [v.rr. trifle, tryffel] he it wende.
1340. Ayenb., 58. Þe bourdes and þe trufles uol of uelþe and of leazinges.
1390. Gower, Conf., III. 344. Mi Sone, unto the trouthe wende … And lete all othre truffles [v.rr. trifles, triffles] be.
1393. Langl., P. Pl., C. XXI. 151. Hit is trufle [v.rr. tryfle, triful, trewful] þat þou tellest.
c. 1440. York Myst., v. 125. Allas! þat I … trowed þe trufuls þat þou me saide. Ibid., xxxi. 300. But telle vs nowe some trufillis betwene vs twoo.
1483. Cath. Angl., 395/2. Truffillis, nuge, gerra.
β. 13[?]. Cursor M., 253 (Cott.). To wast Þair liif, in trofel and truandis. Ibid., 27623 (Cott. Galba). Of pride cumes … sang of trofils [Cott. truful] or lesing.
1340. Hampole, Pr. Consc., 183. Many has lykyng trofels to here.
c. 1400. Rule St. Benet, 1735. Tales of trofils þai sal non tel.
γ. 1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 5031. Þys yche tale ys no tryfyl, For hyt ys wryte yn þe bybyl.
13[?]. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 103. Talkkande bifore þe hyȝe table of trifles ful hende.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XVIII. 147. It is but a trufle [v.rr. tryfule, truyfle] þat þow tellest.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 442. Iapis & gabbingis or oþere tryuolis.
c. 1440. Generydes, 4664. These are butt triffolys and delayes.
14[?]. Voc., in Wr.-Wülcker, 617/42. Trufa, a trefele.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 502/2. Trylle, trufa.
c. 1518. Skelton, Magnyf., 1142. I am yet as full of game As euer I was, and as full of tryfyls [rhyme nyfyls].
1548. Udall, etc., Erasm. Par. Matt. xv. 67. The Phariseis teache and obserue supersticiously these folysh tryfles.
1681. W. Robertson, Phraseol. Gen. (1693), 1258. Nifles and trifles; vain tales of Robin Hood; aniles fabulæ.
2. Hence, A matter of little value or importance; ‘a thing of no moment’ (J.); a trivial, paltry, or insignificant affair.
c. 1290. S. Eng. Leg., I. 412/345. Þare-fore mot ech holi man … tuyrne is herte to some truyfle.
1340. Ayenb., 142. Þer treteþ he of his greate quereles hueruore alle oþre niedes him þingþ trufles.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Sel. Wks., II. 185. Worldli goodis, fame of þe world, and oþer trifilis.
1513. More, Rich. III. (1883), 58. Leneth mi lord thi master so muche to such trifles?
1585. Reg. Privy Council Scot., IV. 32. The materis … wer bot triffillis in respect of uthiris of greitar importance.
1604. Shaks., Oth., III. iii. 322. Trifles light as ayre, Are to the iealious, confirmations strong As proofes of holy Writ.
1706. E. Ward, Wooden World Diss. (1708), 33. He’s a mighty exact Man about Trifles.
1758. Johnson, Idler, No. 23, ¶ 7. There is scarcely any man without some favourite trifle which he values above greater attainments.
1833. Ht. Martineau, Brooke Farm, ix. 110. Some trifles went wrong in the cottage.
1882. Pebody, Eng. Journalism, xxii. 176. A Society journal, dealing … with the trifles of the day.
b. Without article. rare.
1768. Tucker, Lt. Nat. (1834), I. 219. The advantage of virtue over vice and trifle does not lie in the very act, but in the consequences. Ibid., 620. As well in matters of trifle as of moment.
† c. transf. A worthless person; a trifler. Obs.
c. 1475. Pict. Voc., in Wr.-Wülcker, 806/21. Hic nugigerulus, a trifelle.
a. 1623. Fletcher, Love’s Cure, III. iv. Syav. Pray wear these trifles. Clara.… You are a trifle, wear your self, sir, out.
1675. Traherne, Chr. Ethics, 392. You will look as like a trifle, a knave, or a fool, as one of them; and be as very a mad man.
a. 1716. South, Serm. (1744), XI. 18. It shews him to be a fop, a trifle and a mere picture.
3. concr. A small article of little intrinsic value; a toy, trinket, bauble, knick-knack.
1375. Will of Eliz. Lister (Somerset Ho.). A goun et vnum triffle sȝelf egged.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 1894. Þe trufils þat ȝe to me sent, Þe herne-pan, þe hand-ball, þe hatt made of twiggis.
1530. Palsgr., 283/1. Tryfell, a knacke, friuolle.
1630. R. Johnson’s Kingd. & Commw., 196. Divers sorts of Linnen-cloth, with innumerable other small trifles.
1719. De Foe, Crusoe, I. 44. To purchase … for Trifles, such as Beads, Toys, Knives, Scissars, Hatchets, Bits of Glass, and the like; not only Gold Dust,… Elephants Teeth, &c. but Negroes.
1756. Mrs. Calderwood, in Coltness Collect. (Maitl. Cl.), 148. If you buy a triffle … then they are very civill.
1912. Daily Graphic, 31 Dec., 13/2. These elegant trifles [hat-pins] are made in a variety of graceful designs.
4. A literary work, piece of music, etc., light or trivial in style; a slight or facetious composition; a bagatelle. Often used in meiosis.
1579. Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 106. If Lucilla reade this trifle, shee will straight proclaime Euphues for a traytour.
1665. Boyle, Occas. Rep., Disc. Occas. Medit. (1848), 1. The Trifles of this kind, your Commands make me trouble you with.
a. 1704. T. Brown, 1st Sat. Persius, 66. Read his trifles, and scarce in one line You’ll find him guilty of the least design.
1751. Earl of Orrery, Remarks Swift, vi. (1752), 47. Poems to Stella, and trifles to Dr. Sheridan, fill up a great part of that period.
1837. Keith, Bot. Lex., 2. Anacreon, in one of his little trifles in honour of drinking, makes the very trees of the forest drink.
1884. W. C. Smith, Kildrostan, 47. A little song—A trifle … Which I had writ for Mairi once to sing.
5. A small sum of money, or a sum treated as of no moment; a slight ‘consideration.’
c. 1595. Capt. Wyatt, R. Dudley’s Voy. W. Ind. (Hakl. Soc.), 39. The Captaine præsentinge him with a trifle from our Generall, hee [etc.].
1615. G. Sandys, Trav., 116. Giving a trifle for oile, about midnight we departed.
1746. Francis, trans. Hor. Sat. II. iii. 214. ‘What will it cost? Nay, hold!’—‘A very trifle.’—‘Sir, I will be told.’—‘Three pence.’
1762–71. H. Walpole, Vertue’s Anecd. Paint. (1786), II. 157. Some not suiting the places, were brought back, and sold for a trifle after the death of my father.
1818. Scott, Lett., 30 April, in Lockhart, Life (1837), IV. iv. 138. I could bet a trifle the doors, &c. will arrive the very day I set out.
b. An insignificant quantity or amount.
1722. De Foe, Plague (1884), 132. Here is fifty thousand…, within a Trifle.
1911. Beveridge, North Uist, v. 63. Nor can it ever have afforded more than a mere trifle of arable soil.
c. A trifle (advb.): To a trifling or slight extent; in a small degree, a little; somewhat, rather.
1859. Reade, Love me Little, xi. The bank itself was small and grave and a trifle dingy.
1860. G. Meredith, E. Harrington, xi. The chairman welcomed them a trifle snubbingly.
1887. Jessopp, Arcady, vii. 214. Jehu is a trifle below middle height.
1892. Speaker, 3 Sept., 291/2. We may inquire, perhaps, if it be not a trifle arrogant.
6. † a. A dish composed of cream boiled with various ingredients. Obs. b. A light confection of sponge-cake or the like, flavored with wine or spirit, and served with custard and whipped cream.
1598. Florio, Mantiglia, a kinde of clouted creame called a foole or a trifle in English.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, III. 85/1. Triffel, is Cream boiled with Sugar, Mace and Cinnamon.
1736. Bailey, Househ. Dict., 571. To make a Trifle. Boil a quart of cream,… sweeten it,… put to it two spoonfuls of rennet; let it stand till it comes like cheese.
1781. Cowper, Lett., 18 Feb. There is some froth, and here and there a bit of sweetmeat, which seems to entitle it justly to the name of a certain dish the ladies call a trifle.
1836–9. Dickens, Sk. Boz, Bloomsbury Christening. There were fowls, and tongue, and trifle, and sweets, and lobster salad.
1860. O. W. Holmes, Elsie V., vii. (1891), 110. That most wonderful object of domestic art called trifle,… with its charming confusion of cream and cake and almonds and jam and jelly and wine and cinnamon and froth.
7. Name for a kind of pewter of medium hardness; in pl. also, articles made of this.
1610–1. [implied in TRIFLER 3].
1612–3. in Welch, Hist. Pewterers’ Co. (1902), II. 61. Att wch tyme was Syzed by them theis seuerall parcells of Tryffles as followe vizt: Great duble bells wth peper boxes & baules…. The greate beakr … Middle beaker … Smale beaker … The great beere bowle…. The large wrought Cupps … [etc.]. Ibid. (1668–9), 140. It is … agreed … that … every person that taketh Hollow-ware of any workman & returneth not him for the same 1/2 plate mettle and 1/2 London Trifles, shall pay unto such workman for want of plate mettle after the rate of 3s 6d per Cent and deliver him good London Trifles.
1839. Ure, Dict. Arts, 952. The English tradesmen distinguish three sorts, which they call plate, trifle, and ley pewter; the first and hardest being used for plates and dishes; the second for beer-pots; and the third for larger wine measures.
1875. Knight, Dict. Mech., 1677/1. To regulate the quality … a button of pure tin weighing 182 grains was employed; a similar button of plate-pewter would weigh 1831/2 grains; of trifle, 1851/2 grains; and of ley, 1981/2 grains.
8. a. attrib. or as adj. Trifling.
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts, 170. This is no trumpery tale, nor trifle toy.
b. Comb., as trifle-bearer, -dish, -monger, -worship; trifle-pewter = sense 7; trifle-ring, ‘a ring having some hidden mechanism or play of parts, as a gimmel-ring, puzzle-ring, or one composed of three or more hoops working on pivots’ (Cent. Dict.).
1561. Withers, trans. Calvin’s Treat. Relics, A ij. Certaine *trifle bearers, who … did exercise a most vilainous and filthy kynd of cariyng hyther, and thether reliques of martyrs.
1859. Lang, Wand. India, 107. The soup … was served up in a *trifle-dish which had formed part of a dessert service belonging to the 9th Lancers.
1819. Hermit in London, III. 81. These selfish *trifle-mongers.
1875. Knight, Dict. Mech., 1677/1. The *trifle-pewter has, tin 83; antimony 17; with a good deal of lead occasionally.
a. 1860. J. A. Alexander, Gosp. Jesus Christ, xv. (1861), 203. The exchange of spiritual life for … factitious morals and a senseless *trifle-worship.
Hence (nonce-wds.) Trifledom, the realm of trifles; Triflet, a small trifle (in sense 4).
1895. Daily News, 8 Nov., 3/2. A skit upon the Haymarket piece … described … as ‘A Trilby Triflet.’
1903. Westm. Gaz., 22 Sept., 2/3. Twin synonyms of frolic mild,… Are ye from Trifledom exiled?
