spiff

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

• IPA^(key): /spɪf/

• Audio (Southern England)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɪf

spiff (countable and uncountable, 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, archaic, slang) A well-dressed man; a swell.
3. (countable, commerce, slang) 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) Alternative form of spliff (“hand-rolled marijuana cigarette”)
   • 2000, Leone Ross, “Tasting Songs”, in Sheree R. Thomas, editor, Dark Matter‎:

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

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

1. (transitive, informal) (usually with up or out) To make spiffy (attractive, polished, or up-to-date)
   • 1874, William Schwenck Gilbert, Foggerty's Fairy:

     Oh, but we flatter ourselves that we are spiffed out; at all events, we've got our best dresses on.

   • 1996, Coke Newell, Cow Chips Aren't for Dippin':

     This ensemble may be properly spiffed with a bolo tie, and topped off with a. . .

   • 2005, Jill Larson Sundberg, Michael Larson, Babes Remember:

     We dated boys who had their own cars and wow! what fancy cars they were—spiffed and buffed in bright '50s reds or turquoises.

   • 2011, Andrew R. Thomas, Soft Landing: Airline Industry Strategy, Service, and Safety, page 152:

     Infrastructure Spiffed?

2. (transitive, commerce, slang) To reward (a salesperson) with a spiff or bonus.
   • 1968, The Stereophile - Issue 2, page 26:

     It is my confirmed belief that, spiffed or not, the salesman is the consumer's best-qualified and best- informed source of assistance in matters of component selection.

   • 2009, Dave Lakhani, How To Sell When Nobody's Buying:

     The company made more money, and so did the salesperson who was spiffed on the sale and he was selling a product that most people don't buy.

3. (transitive, commerce, slang) To attach a spiff or bonus to the selling of (a product)
   • 1906, The American Magazine - Volume 62, page 497:

     It wasn't my fault if the blamed old store caught fire and gave me a chance to help Ferguson move out some of the stuff that has been 'spiffed' till it looks like red ink had been spilled all over the price-tags.

   • 1919, Boot and Shoe Recorder - Volumes 74-75, page 59:

     Because you can pull out a spiff anywhere you are in the store and the customers are not aware that they are spiffed shoes.

4. (transitive, informal) To throw; to heave.

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

• spruce (as in spruce up)

• spiff up
• spiffy

• spliff

• piffs