Jiffy

/ˈdʒɪfi/ noun

Definition

A very short amount of time; a moment or instant.

Etymology

Origin uncertain, but possibly from the 18th-century slang 'jiff' or related to the word 'gyve' (a shackle). It became popular in American English in the late 1800s and remains informal.

Kelly Says

You can buy 'Jiffy' peanut butter and cornbread mix, but did you know the brand is named after the catchphrase 'in a jiffy,' meaning quick convenience food was ready in just a moment?

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