Middle English Dictionary Entry
tiffing(e ger.
Entry Info
| Forms | tiffing(e ger. Also (error) tyssynge. |
| Etymology | From tiffen v. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The adorning or beautifying of a person or a person's hair; also, personal adornment, finery; (b) busying oneself with trivial things.
Associated quotations
a
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)218/24 : Ancre þe naueð nawt neh honde hire fode, beoð bisie twa wummen, An eauer þe leaue ed hame, an oþer þe wende ut hwenne driueð neod, & þeo beo ful unorne wið uten euch tiffunge.
- c1230 Ancr.(Corp-C 402)215/28 : Wummon, seið þe apostle, schal wreon hire heaued; wrihen, he seið, nawt wimplin; wrihen ha schal hire scheome..ant nawt drahe þe wriheles to tiffunge & to prude.
- c1350 Apoc.(1) in LuSE (Hrl 874)p.179 : I seiȝ þe Cite of newe Ierusalem comande adoune from heuen atiffed of god as þe spouse is honoured of hir lorde..Þe tyffyng bitokneþ þe liknesse þat she shal haue wiþ her spouse.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)3243 : Moche she loued feyre tyfyng [vr. tyffynge] On here hede, ouer al þyng.
- ?c1430(a1400) Wycl.Wedded Men (Corp-C 296)193 : Þes wymmen schulden not have wiþouten forþ tiffynge of her, ne garlondis of gold, ne over precious or curious cloþinge.
b
- ?a1475 PParv.(Win)482 : Tyssynge [read: Tyffynge; Hrl 221: Tyfflynge] or vnprofytable werkyng.