trifle

Where does the word "trifle" come from? It comes from Old French trufle, and was adopted directly into English (1200s).

Trifle’s story begins in Old French: trufle meant “something trivial, a jest.” A mockery, a jest, something of little importance. It reached English by 1200s as trifle. Narrowed from anything trivial to a specific layered English dessert. Today, trifle means a layered English dessert of cake, fruit, custard, and cream, or something of little value.

1. Stage 1 · Old French · medieval trufle "something trivial, a jest", a mockery, a jest, something of little importance.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1200s trifle "something of little importance, or a layered dessert", narrowed from anything trivial to a specific layered English dessert.