squiffy
English
Etymology
Unknown; possibly coined in the 19th century.
Pronunciation
- Lua error in Module:parameters at line 360: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "UK" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /ˈskwɪf.i/
Audio (Southern England): (file) - Rhymes: -ɪfi
Adjective
squiffy (comparative squiffier, superlative squiffiest)
- (British, informal) slightly drunk or intoxicated; tipsy
- 1992, J. B. Priestley, An Inspector Calls, Heinemann, →ISBN, page 51:
- In the Palace bar. I'd been there an hour or so with two or three other chaps. I was a bit squiffy.
- (British, informal) Crooked, askew; awry
- 2004, Jude Rawlins, Cul De Sac: Lyrics, Prose & Poems 1987-2004, Lulu.com, →ISBN, page 11:
- 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.
- 2005, Catherine Soanes and Angus Stevenson, editor, The Oxford Dictionary of English (revised edition), Oxford University Press:
- The graphics make your eyes go squiffy.
Synonyms
- (tipsy): buzzed, merry, muzzy, squiffed; see also Thesaurus:drunk
- (crooked): cattywampus, cockeyed, skew-whiff; see also Thesaurus:askew
Derived terms
Translations
slightly intoxicated