Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(US black) irresponsible, parasitic.

1865		Nation I 586: His manners and conversation, showed him to be a good deal above that class commonly called ‘low-down, triflin’ people,’ or poor white trash [DA].
1902		W.N. Harben Abner Daniel 199: Folks would say I was a born idiot to be payin’ my lazy triflin’ kinfolks out o’ the consequences o’ the’r devilment.
1923		Alberta Hunter ‘Aggravatin’ Papa’ 🎵 I know a triflin’ man, / They call him Triflin’ Sam.
1928		Blind Lemon Jefferson ‘Hangman’s Blues’ 🎵 Lord, I’m almost dyin’, gasping for my breath / And a triflin’ woman waiting to celebrate my death.
1934		O. Strange Sudden 220: No, sir, we’ve razzle-dazzled that triflin’ relative o’ yores this time.
a.1948		(con. early 1930s) C. McKay Harlem Glory (1990) 45: The trifling no-count rag-cutters [sic] ain’t worf no more than the raggedy hole in the seat of their pants.
1957		Warren Smith ‘Red Cadillac And Black Mustache’ 🎵 Triflin’ baby are you being true / Who’s been fooling around with you?
1965		C. Brown Manchild in the Promised Land (1969) 302: No-good damn bums, old triflin’, roguish dope addicts.
1972		O. Hawkins Ghetto Sketches 20: I don’t know why I fuck with you triflin’ Scorpio bitches anyway!
1987		in Delacoste & Alexander Sex Work (1988) 57: U trifling bitch, u mean u been out all nite and ain’t got but seventy-five dollars?
1997		Simon & Burns Corner (1998) 222: Reeka just a girl. She too young an’ triflin’.
[2000		Ebonics Primer at www.dolemite.com 🌐 trifling Definition: not serious. Example: That triflin ass fool don’t even pimp his hoes propa].
2008		in J. Miller Getting Played 74: ‘I call girls names… everything… B’s, ho's, rats, triflin' tramps…. [Those names] be the first thing that come out my mouth to a girl who make me mad.
2012		‘Dutch’ ? (Pronounced Que) [ebook] You a triflin’ bitch, you know that.
2014		C. Eble (ed.) UNC-CH Campus Sl. Spring 2014 15: TRIFE — trifling unpleasant, annoying: X: ‘She didn’t take you to the store?’ Y: ‘She’s trife’.