Fray vs Tiff - What's the difference?
fray | tiff | Related terms |
Affray; broil; contest; combat; brawl; melee.
* Shakespeare
* {{quote-news
, year=2010
, date=December 29
, author=Mark Vesty
, title=Wigan 2 - 2 Arsenal
, work=BBC
(archaic) fright
To unravel; used particularly for the edge of something made of cloth, or the end of a rope.
(figuratively) To cause exhaustion, wear out (a person's mental strength).
(archaic) frighten; alarm
* 1662 , , Book II, A Collection of Several Philosophical Writings of Dr. Henry More, p. 63:
* Spenser
To bear the expense of; to defray.
* Massinger
To rub.
* Sir Walter Scott
A small argument; a petty quarrel.
* 1840 , William Makepeace Thackeray, Catherine: A Story
Liquor; especially, a small draught of liquor.
* Sir Walter Scott
Fray is a related term of tiff.
As a noun fray
is affray; broil; contest; combat; brawl; melee.As a verb fray
is to unravel; used particularly for the edge of something made of cloth, or the end of a rope.As a proper noun tiff is
a nickname for tiffany.fray
English
Etymology 1
From (etyl) frai, aphetic variant of affray.Noun
(en noun)- Though they did not know the reason for the dispute, they did not hesitate to leap into the fray .
- Who began this bloody fray ?
citation, page= , passage=Wigan, unbeaten in five games at the DW Stadium, looked well in control but the catalyst for Arsenal's improvement finally came when Diaby left the field with a calf injury and Jack Wilshere came into the fray , bringing some much needed determination and urgency to lacklustre Arsenal. }}
Etymology 2
From (etyl) fraien, from (etyl) frayer, from (etyl) .Verb
(en verb)- The ribbon frayed at the cut end.
- The stressful day ended in frayed nerves. (Metaphorical use; nerves are visualised as strings)
- "Besides, all the wit and Philosophy in the world can never demonstrate, that the killing and slaughtering of a Beast is anymore then the striking of a Bush where a Bird's Nest is, where you fray away the Bird, and then seize upon the empty Nest."
- What frays ye, that were wont to comfort me affrayed?
- The charge of my most curious and costly ingredients frayed , I shall acknowledge myself amply satisfied.
- We can show the marks he made / When 'gainst the oak his antlers frayed .
tiff
English
Etymology 1
Originally, a sniff, sniffing; compare Icelandic word for a smell.Noun
(en noun)- There’s Tom, now, since this tiff with Mrs. Cat, the scoundrel plays the Grand Turk here!
- sipping his tiff of brandy punch.
