Compare German muffeln (“grouse, grumble”) and similar German words with similar meanings such as Muff, mupf, Muffel and Dutch moppen (“growl, grouse”). Probably related to mop (“grimace”).
Meanings
A small argument; a quarrel.
nay, she would throw it in the teeth of Allworthy himself, when a little quarrel, or miff, as it is vulgarly called, arose between them. 1749, Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC:
Well, to cut a long story short, by-long and by-late, John Wildway and I had a miff and parted; and lo and behold, the coming man came! 1872, [Thomas Hardy], “VIII. They Dance More Wildly”, in Under the Greenwood Tree: A Rural Painting of the Dutch School, volume I, London: Tinsley Brothers, →OCLC, part I, page 111:
A state of being offended.
She's taken a miff at something, I suppose, and means to cut my acquaintance. 1851, T. S. Arthur, Off-Hand Sketches:
ru ссо́ра (an argument, quarrel) · eo disputo (an argument, quarrel) · eo ĉagreniĝo (a state of being offended) · hu összezördülés (an argument, quarrel) · fr fâcherie (an argument, quarrel) · ru размо́лвка (an argument, quarrel) · bg спречкване (an argument, quarrel) · ru оби́да (a state of being offended) · fi erimielisyys (an argument, quarrel) · fi kahnaus (an argument, quarrel) · bg мусене (a state of being offended) · hu civakodás (an argument, quarrel) · de Streit (an argument, quarrel) · de Verstimmung (a state of being offended)
Compare German muffeln (“grouse, grumble”) and similar German words with similar meanings such as Muff, mupf, Muffel and Dutch moppen (“growl, grouse”). Probably related to mop (“grimace”).
Meanings
(transitive, used in the passive, usually) To offend slightly.
he [our Interpreter Shabonah] will not agree to work let our Situation be what it may nor Stand a guard, and if miffed with any man he wishes to return when he pleases 1805 March 12, Bernard DeVoto, editor, The journals of Lewis and Clark, Houghton Mifflin, Boston, 1953, Clark's journal, page 85:
1911, James Oliver Curwood, Philip Steele of the Royal Northwest Mounted Police
"Don't get miffed about it, man," returned Nome with an irritating laugh.
1824, Sir Walter Scott, Redgauntlet
[…] answered my Thetis, a little miffed perhaps -- to use the women's phrase — that I turned the conversation upon my former partner, rather than addressed it to herself.
(intransitive) To become slightly offended.
I amble on; yet, though I know not why, / So sad I am!—but should a friend and I / Grow cool and miff, O! I am very sad! c. 1797, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, “To Simplicity”, in Sonnets Attempted in the Manner of Contemporary Writers:
1905, George Barr McCutcheon, Jane Cable
She miffed and started to reply, but thought better of it.
Forms
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miffing
Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part
lexicographic
miffed
Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part
lexicographic
miffed
Tense=Past
lexicographic
miffs
Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres
lexicographic
Translations (24)
bg муся се (to become slightly offended) · bg сърдя се (to become slightly offended) · fi loukkaantua (to become slightly offended) · pt amofinar (to offend slightly) · fi loukata (to offend slightly) · cs namíchnout (to offend slightly) · es ofensar (to offend slightly) · pt amofinar-se (to become slightly offended) · ca ofendre (to offend slightly) · de beleidigen (to offend slightly) · eo ĉagreni (to offend slightly) · he נֶעֱלַב (to become slightly offended) · de verstimmen (to offend slightly) · nl verontwaardigen (to offend slightly) · bg разсърдвам (to offend slightly) · cs namíchnout se (to become slightly offended) · eo ĉagreniĝi (to become slightly offended) · it offendere (to offend slightly) · cs nakrknout se (to become slightly offended) · cs nakrknout (to offend slightly) · fr fâcher (to offend slightly) · ru обижа́ться (to become slightly offended) · gl agraviar (to offend slightly) · nl zich gekrenkt voelen (to become slightly offended)