tiffin

Where does the word "tiffin" come from? It comes from English tiff, passing through Anglo-Indian before entering English (1800s).

Tiffin’s story begins in English: tiff meant “a sip.” Dialect slang for a sip of liquor. By 1800s, the word had taken hold in Anglo-Indian as tiffing. British officials in India called their light midday meal 'tiffing'. It reached English by 1800s as tiffin. Mumbai's 'dabbawalas' still deliver home-cooked lunches in stacked tiffin tins. Today, tiffin means a light meal, especially lunch, in India.

1. Stage 1 · English · 1700s tiff "a sip", dialect slang for a sip of liquor.
2. Stage 2 · Anglo-Indian · 1800s tiffing "light lunch", British officials in India called their light midday meal 'tiffing'.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1800s tiffin "light meal", Mumbai's 'dabbawalas' still deliver home-cooked lunches in stacked tiffin tins.