English

Etymology

Unknown, possibly coined in the 19th century

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈskwɪfɪ/
• :

Adjective

1. slightly drunk or intoxicated; tipsy
2. *1992, J.B. Priestley, An Inspector Calls, Heinemann, ISBN 0435232827, page 51,
3. *:In the Palace bar. I'd been there an hour or so with two or three other chaps. I was a bit squiffy.
4. Crooked, askew; awry
5. *2004, Jude Rawlins, Cul De Sac: Lyrics, Prose & Poems 1987-2004, Lulu.com, ISBN 141160895X, page 11,
6. *:To this day I cannot and will not wear a tie properly. On the one or two occasions I have worn them since I left school, I've worn them squiffy, on purpose.
7. *2005, Editors Catherine Soanes and Angus Stevenson, The Oxford Dictionary of English (revised edition), Oxford University Press,
8. *:The graphics make your eyes go squiffy.

Synonyms

• squiffed

Translations

• French: pompette

• Spanish: achispado, piripí

References

• 1998, The Dorling Kindersley Illustrated Oxford Dictionary, Dorling Kindersley Limited and Oxford University Press, ISBN 0751311103, page 807
• 1994, Rosalind Fergusson, Eric Partridge, Shorter Slang Dictionary, ISBN 0415088666, page 203.

Category:Unknown etymology

vi:squiffy