JIFFY Meaning and
Definition
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Jiffy is a noun that originally comes from the colloquial British expression "in a jiffy," meaning quickly or immediately. It refers to a very short and indeterminate amount of time, typically representing an instant or a moment. In general usage, it corresponds to a brief period or a short duration, often implying the idea of a task or action completed swiftly or promptly.
However, the term can also have more specific definitions depending on the context. In computing, a jiffy denotes a unit of time measurement commonly used in computer science and computer programming. It represents the time taken for one complete system timer tick or the time slice in a multi-tasking operating system, serving as a basic unit for various timing processes.
In addition, jiffy is also utilized in physics and electronics to define the time interval between alternating current power cycles, typically equal to 1/60 or 1/50 of a second depending on the country's electrical standards. This definition indicates how quickly alternating current changes direction and helps determine the frequency or refresh rate of electrical devices.
Overall, jiffy can portray different connotations depending on the context, exemplifying a short time span in general usage while taking on specific meanings related to timing and measurement in various technical fields.
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Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
Top Common Misspellings for JIFFY *
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
Other Common Misspellings for JIFFY
Etymology of JIFFY
The word "jiffy" is believed to have originated in the late 18th century. Its exact etymology is somewhat uncertain, and there are a few potential explanations.
One theory suggests that "jiffy" may have come from the word "giffy", which is a British slang term used to denote a brief moment or a very short period of time. "Jiffy" could then be seen as a variation or corruption of this term, becoming more widely used over time.
Another possibility is that "jiffy" may have derived from the word "jaffle" or "jive". "Jaffle" was an 18th-century term used to refer to a prison or a difficult situation, while "jive" was a slang term used in the 1920s to mean "nonsense" or "deception".
Idioms with the word JIFFY
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in a jiffy
The idiom "in a jiffy" means to do something quickly or immediately, without any delay or hesitation. It refers to a short amount of time or a brief moment.
Similar spelling words for JIFFY
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