spiff

English

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ɪf

Noun

spiff (plural spiffs)

1. (uncountable) Attractiveness or charm in dress, appearance, or manner.

   Without a diploma, he relies on spiff alone to climb the corporate ladder.

2. (countable, dated) A well-dressed man.
3. (countable, sales jargon) A bonus or other remuneration, given for reaching a sales goal or promoting the goods of a particular manufacturer. Originally from textile retailing, a percentage given for selling off surplus or out-of-fashion stock, of which the sales person could offer part as a discount to a customer.
4. (countable, colloquial, Jamaica) A hand-rolled marijuana cigarette, a joint (variant of spliff).
   • 2000, Leone Ross, Tasting Songs, in Dark Matter (ed. Sheree R. Thomas), p. 76:

     She rolled a spiff for us as she spoke, sifting the ganja between her fingers […]

Verb

spiff (third-person singular simple present spiffs, present participle spiffing, simple past and past participle spiffed)

1. (usually with up) to make spiffy (attractive, polished, or up-to-date)

   Our productivity would surely increase if we'd just spiff up this office a bit.

2. to reward (a salesperson) with a spiff.
3. to throw.

   I spiffed the turf over the edge and it went straight through the window and hit the officer.

Synonyms

• spruce (as in spruce up)

Derived terms

• spiff up
• spiffy

See also

• spliff

Anagrams

• piffs