Search the Dictionary

Of or pertaining to style in language. [R.] "Stylistic trifles." J. A. Symonds. The great stylistic differences in the works ascribed to him [Wyclif]. G. P. Marsh.

A sight consisting of a small telescope, as on a compass or rifle.

A small degree or quantity; a trifle; as, a thought longer; a thought better. [Colloq.] If the hair were a thought browner. Shak.

A great fool; a trifler.

A thing for amusement, but of no real value; an article of trade of little value; a trifle. They exchange for knives, glasses, and such toys, great abundance of gold and pearl. Abr. Abbot.

One who toys; one who is full of trifling tricks; a trifler.

barter. They traded the persons of men. Ezek. xxvii. 13. To dicker and to swop, to trade rifles and watches. Cooper.

A toy; a trifle; a plaything. [Obs.] Shak.

A thing of little value; a trifle; a toy.

That which is trivial; a trifle. The philosophy of our times does not expend itself in furious discussions on mere scholastic trivialities. Lyon Playfair.

A bundle; a package; as, a truss of grass. Fabyan. Bearing a truss of trifles at his back. Spenser.

To play with anything; hence, to be busy about trifles. Halliwell.

red or attended to; not regarded; inconsiderable; trifling. A snapper-up of unconsidered trifles. Shak.

that is, success to; as, vive le roi, long live the king; vive la bagatelle, success to trifles or sport.

One of a picked company of irregular riflemen in each regiment of the French infantry.

A roving, frolicsome thing; a trifler; -- used rarely as a term of endearment. I am afeard you make a wanton of me. Shak. Peace, my wantons; he will do More than you can aim unto. B. Jonson.

ly changes his opinion or course; one who uses shifts and evasions in argument; hence, a trifler. Every whiffler in a laced coat who frequents the chocolate house shall talk of the constitution. Swift.

A whimsical thing; an odd device; a trifle; a trinket; a gimcrack. [R.] They'll pull ye all to pieces for your whimwhams. Bear. & Fl.

A form of rifled cannon and small arms invented by Sir Joseph Whitworth, of Manchester, England.

In the German army, one belonging to a body of light infantry armed with rifles, resembling the chasseur of the French army. [Written also jager.]