Siff

From Syph f (“syphilis”), clipping of Syphilis, either directly or as a back-formation from versifft (also spelt versypht). The use for “filth” has existed in slang since at least the 1960s; it became more widely accepted during the 1980s.

While the origin from Syphilis is not in doubt, note that dialectally (e.g. Rhineland, parts of Hesse) there is a verb seifen, siffen, siefen (“to ooze, seep”), from Middle High German sīfen, from Proto-Germanic *sīpaną, by which it may have been influenced or reinforced.

• IPA^(key): /zɪf/

• Audio:

  (file)

Siff m (strong, genitive Siffs, no plural) (colloquial)

1. filth, dirt, especially moist or greasy kinds

   Synonyms: Schmiere, Schmutz

   Das Badezimmer ist ein einziger Siff!

   (please add an English translation of this usage example)

   • 2008, Joachim Moras, Hans Paeschke, Merkur, volume 62, page 182:

     Ein Radio plärrt durch die offene Tür. Arbeiterimbiss – ein Siff von Dosenravioli, Discountkäse, Drecksbier und Dönerpapieren. Überquellender Kippenfänger auf Sperrmülltisch, Sperrholzstühle und Do-it-yourself-Küchenschränke.

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

2. (rare or regional) nonsense, tosh

• entsiffen
• siffig

• versiffen

• “Siff” in Duden online

• Sift

From Middle High German sif, from Old High German (*)sif, northern variant of sib, from Proto-West Germanic *sibi. Cognate with German Sieb, Dutch zeef, English sieve.

• IPA^(key): /zif/
• Rhymes: -if

Siff m (plural Siffer)

1. sieve