Where does “trifle” come from?

Trifle comes from Middle English trifle, from Old French trufle, from Old French trufe, of uncertain ultimate origin.

trifle (English): An English dessert made from a mixture of thick...

Definitions

  1. An English dessert made from a mixture of thick...

Ancestry of “trifle”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishtrifle
2Old Frenchtruflemockery
3Occitantrufa
4Vulgar Latintufera
5Latintūbera hump, bump, swelling, protuberance; excrescence
6Proto-Italictūβos
7Proto-Indo-Europeantewh₂-to swell; to crowd; to be strong

Words derived from “trifle

Every word from Proto-Indo-European tewh₂-Every word from Proto-Italic tūβosEvery word from Latin tūber
trifle — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer