n. & v.
n. 1 a thing of slight value or importance. 2 a a small amount esp. of money (was sold for a trifle). b (prec. by a) somewhat (seems a trifle annoyed). 3 Brit. a confection of sponge cake with custard, jelly, fruit, cream, etc.
v. 1 intr. talk or act frivolously. 2 intr. (foll. by with) a treat or deal with frivolously or derisively; flirt heartlessly with. b refuse to take seriously. 3 tr. (foll. by away) waste (time, energies, money, etc.) frivolously. trifler n.
[ ME f. OF truf(f)le by-form of trufe deceit, of unkn. orig. ]