Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. a moment, a very short time; almost invariably in phr. in a jiffy; occas. in a jiff; also intensified as half a jiff(y).

1767		‘Andrew Barton’ Disappointment III iii: I’ll fetch ’um in a jiffin.
c.1790		‘De Kilmainham Minit’ in Luke Caffrey’s Gost 6: In a Giffe we blink’d at de Spud.
1793		T. Scott Poems 365: Wad aften in a jiffie to auld Nick Sen’ ane anither [F&H].
1806		G. Colman Yngr John Bull IV i: He settled all in a jiffy.
1812		‘Hector Bull-us’ Diverting Hist. of John Bull and Brother Jonathan 11: Why, it is but the other day, that old Oliver What-d’ye-callem, [...] turned her out of Squire Bull’s house in a jiffy.
1818		E. Picken Poems ii 47: An’ in a jiffin Row’d his fecket like a clew [F&H].
1818		A.N. Royall Letters from Alabama 30 Jan. 124: I’ll just put on the camp-kettle and have it boiling in a giffey.
1818		W. Perry London Guide 42: But mark this: provided you make good use of your lungs, and also make a decent stir before you get touched with hand or stick, I’ll pound them to bolt in a jiffy.
1821		‘A Real Paddy’ Real Life in Ireland 126: But then in a jiffey, / It plung’d in the Liffey.
1821		Egan Life in London (1869) 34: Many an unfortunate homo [...] has been ‘damned to everlasting Fame,’ and disposed of in a Jef.
1823		Egan Grose’s Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: It will be done in a jeffy; it will be done in a short space of time, in an instant.
1825		Pierce Egan’s Life in London 7 Aug. 221/1: The place was cleared in a jiffy.
1830		Mr Mathews’ Comic Annual 9: I got upon the seat towards the top, but I was jolted to the other end in a jiffey.
1832		Currency Lad (Sydney) 3 Nov. 4/2: Well, there was the younker, singing out like a soger.
1836		‘John Marrow’s Pudding’ in Cockchafer 38: For then, you must know, I felt very grand, / When John in a jiffy popp’d into my hand / His long pudding!
1841		‘I Don’t Care If I Do’ Dublin Comic Songster 63: Then three jugs of yale in a jiffy I drunk.
1845		Kalida Venture (OH) 4 Apr. 1/1: His Lordship sprang over the walls in a jiffy.
1848		G.W.M. Reynolds Mysteries of London II (2nd Ser.) 164: You shall have dinner in a jiffey, I can promise you!
1851		Melville Moby Dick (1907) 380: The next instant, in a jiff, I was blind as a bat.
1851		M. Reid Scalp-Hunters I 116: I will be back in a jiffy.
1855		J. Brougham Basket of Chips 401: This here description o’ pictur’ takin’ was done in a giffy.
1856		Bell’s Life in Sydney 4 Oct. 3/1: Inspector Mortimer [...] was ‘down’ upon the offender in a jiffey.
1869		‘Opening of the Viaduct’ in C. Hindley Curiosities of Street Lit. (1871) 152: Come lads and lasses, be up in a jiffy.
1870		Aus. Town & Country Jrnl (Sydney) 26 Nov. 17/1: ‘I’d clap yoke on 'em in a jiffy but I’m bent two double in this colic’.
1871		Bolivar Bull. (TN) 15 Apr. 1/4: We kin have a light-wood fire in two jiffies.
1872		Wkly Kansas Chief (Troy, KS) 26 Dec. 1/5: Some of the hands would lik to see you for half a jiff, Mr Wade.
1873		Bristol Mercury 19 Apr. 6/4: If the Englishman or W.R. had had any ‘nous’ about them [...] they could have done it in a ‘jiffey’.
1875		‘Aliph Cheem’ Lays of Ind (1905) 105: And, in a jiffey, stood gesticulating by the brute!
1883		J. Greenwood Tag, Rag & Co. 27: We can shove her off and away we go in a jiffy.
1886		Western Times 28 May 2/4: He went in a giffy.
1890		Music Hall & Theatre Rev. 5 July 7/2: I tumbled to that in a jiffey.
1890		Sporting Times 8 Feb. 3/3: We get into the harbour [...] in rather less than a jiffey.
1891		H. Lawson ‘His Last Ride’ in Roderick (1972) 27: We’ll have yer home in a jiffy.
1895		‘’Arry and the [...] Lady Cyclists’ in Punch 15 June 285/1: It took me aback for a jiff, th’ of course I was speedy all there.
1895		Mirror of Life 21 Dec. 14/4: They began at close quarters and were clinched in a jiffy.
1899		Boy’s Own Paper 20 May 530: Lie on your oars for a jiffy.
1900		Boys Of The Empire 25 Dec. 181: The rotary cascade bunged up both eyes in a jiffey.
1900		Nat. Police Gaz. (NY) 6 Oct. 11/4: In a jiffy Handler started to divest himself of his street attire.
1900		Boy’s Own Paper 15 Dec. 162: Ye can have your fill of bacon in a jiffy.
1900		Bulletin (Sydney) 19 May 14/4: Left before breakfast, not wishing to express my feelings to the landlord, who thought he could fight, and would – the groom informed me – ‘job a bloke in the eye in half a jiff.’.
1900		H. Garland Eagle’s Heart 125: We’ll have some taters and sow-belly in a giff or two.
1906		Sun. Times (Perth) 21 Oct. 4/7: I tumbled in arf of a jiffy.
1910		O. Johnson Varmint 62: Finish up and we’ll fit you out in a jiffy.
1911		H. Champion ‘Standard Bread’ 🎵 Six months’ washing was done in ’arf a jiff.
1919		C.J. Dennis ‘Red Robin’ in Chisholm (1951) 123: In half a jiff she has me on the ropes.
1921		D.L. Sayers Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club (1977) 157: Half a jiff.
1922		S. Lewis Babbitt (1974) 165: Can you wait a jiffy?
1934		D.L. Sayers Nine Tailors (1984) 134: Now then – up with the cover. Half a jiff.
1937		E. Garnett Family from One End Street 164: Pack up, quick, they’ll be starting in a jiffy!
1938		X. Herbert Capricornia (1939) 351: Let’s consider the Old People for a jiffy.
1939		Wodehouse Uncle Fred in the Springtime 176: But half a jiffy. Aren’t you missing the nub?
1942		Whizzbang Comics 99: I’ll have that lead out in a jiffy.
1949		R. Park Poor Man’s Orange 101: Scuse me. Won’t be a jiff.
1952		Batman No. 73 12: I’ll have this belt conveyor loose in a jiffy!
1958		H.E. Bates Darling Buds of May (1985) 14: Mariette, come over here a jiff.
1960		Wodehouse Jeeves in the Offing 15: ‘Oh, Jeeves,’ I said. ‘Half a jiffy.’.
1963–74		B. Humphries Barry McKenzie [comic strip] in Complete Barry McKenzie (1988) 16: Hang on a jiff, though — I haven’t got the gladrags with me.
1975		L. Rosten Dear ‘Herm’ 8: Wait a jiff.
1978		P. Theroux Picture Palace 258: If we could step inside the house it would be over in a jiffy.
1980		A. Payne ‘All Mod Cons’ Minder [TV script] 56: Look, let us use the phone and I’ll sort that in a jiffy.
1983		M. Read Scouting for Boys in Best Radio Plays (1984) 158: coop: Well, time to bed down. tiger: Shan’t be a jiff.
1989		Beano Comic Library No. 182 63: Back in a jif.
1996		Dandy Book n.p.: ‘Hold on tight and you’ll be home in a jiff?’.
1998		A. Warner Sopranos 261: [Her] eyes lighted again on Kay, flickering only for the jiffiest of jiffies at Kay’s legs.
2011		‘Jack Tunney’ Split Decision [ebook] Tjhat five hundred would be out of my pocket and onto her finger in a jiffy.
2018		(con. 1963) L. Berney November Road 47: Back in a jiffy.
2022		in D. Andrew Aussie Sl.

2. a very small amount.

1886

S. Watson Wops the Waif 2/2: He has got me down to my last stiver, without a blessed jiff of ’ope in me.