skiffy en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /ˈskɪfi/
Etymology
A phonetic spelling of sci-fi to convey its deliberate mispronunciation (with "sc" being read as /sk/ and "i" being read as short vowel /i/ instead of diphthong /aɪ/).
Meanings
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(derogatory, humorous, slang, uncountable, usually) Low-quality science fiction.
Around 1978 the critic Susan Wood and others began pronouncing the term "skiffy". In 1980s-1990s usage "skiffy", which sounds friendlier than "sci fi", has perhaps for that reason come to be less condemnatory. Skiffy is colourful, sometimes entertaining, junk sf: Star Wars is skiffy.
1993, Peter Nicholls, The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction, →ISBN, page 1079:The science fiction reader sneers at fake SF, artificially produced film tie-in novels and stories, most SF films, most TV SF. This he calls sci-fi (or "skiffy")—junk no right-thinking omnivore or chronic should read, watch, or support.
1984, David Hartwell, “The Golden Age of Science Fiction is Twelve”, in Age of Wonders, →ISBN, page 13:Many of the best new writers seem openly ashamed of their backward Skiffy nationality.
1989 July, Bruce Sterling, SF Eye, number 5, page 77: