| 释义 |
jiffy colloq.|ˈdʒɪfɪ|
Also 8 jeffy, 9 jiffey.
[Origin unascertained.]
1. A very short space of time: only in such phrases as in a jiffy, in a trice.
1785Munchhausen's Trav. xxiii. (1792) 96 In six jiffies I found myself and all my retinue..at the rock of Gibralter. 1796Grose Dict. Vulgar Tongue s.v., It will be done in a jeffy: it will be done in a short space of time, in an instant. 1833Marryat P. Simple xiii, We were ordered to South America; and the trade winds took us there in a jiffey. a1845Hood T. Trumpet xxxv, In half a jiffy, or less than that. 1880Spurgeon J. Ploughm. Pict. 100 They have wonderful plans for doing everything in a jiffy.
2. Comb. The proprietary name Jiffy in Jiffy (book) bag, a type of large envelope padded to protect the contents; also fig.; also ellipt. as Jiffy; Jiffy pot, a type of small pot in which seeds may be sown (see quot. 1972); also jiffy-quick adv., in a jiffy.
1956Library Jrnl. 1 June 1384/1 Book handling equipment... Mailing bags: Jiffy, Triangle. Ibid. 1388/1 Jiffy book bag. 1968New Scientist 10 Oct. 77/1 Dr. Pratt has recently been using ‘Jiffy bags’ for his outer-jackets—those patent padded envelopes used for mailing books. 1969Trade Marks Jrnl. 2 July 1084/2 Jiffy... Padded paper bags, cushioned paper pads and padded paper in sheet or roll form, all being wrapping and packaging materials for industrial use, for protecting goods in transit. Jiffy Packaging Company Limited,..Winsford, Cheshire; manufacturers. 1973‘D. Halliday’ Dolly & Starry Bird xvi. 249 Maurice..had backed discreetly into a Jiffy bag of deliberate ignorance.
1957Trade Marks Jrnl. 4 Dec. 1278/1 Jiffapot [sic]... Hormonal peat in the form of propagating pots for plants. 1959Greenhouse IV. iv. 243 (Advt.), These tomato plants grew up side by side,..‘B’ in a standard clay pot, ‘A’ in a Jiffy Pot... Exhibit ‘A’ forged ahead... Ideal for root cuttings too—hyacinths start evenly in Jiffy Pots. 1965G. J. Williams Econ. Geol. N.Z. xvi. 256/2 It is of interest to note that 25 million ‘jiffy pots’ are used annually for horticultural purposes in New Zealand. 1968Trade Marks Jrnl. 27 Mar. 484/2 Jiffypots... Flower, planting and transplanting pots made of peat. Odd Smaaberg Melvold and Leif Fraas Koxvold, trading as Me-Kox Industri Melvold & Koxvold, Østre Akers Vei 210 Grorud, near Oslo, Norway; manufacturers and merchants. 1972Guardian 16 Dec. 12/7 Jiffy pots are..made of peat and wood pulp, through which plant roots can grow.
1927Ladies' Home Jrnl. Dec. 34/3 A waxed surface that..you can dust up jiffy-quick promises spick-and-span floors with but little trouble. |
