Miffed

Miffed, meaning to be upset or to be put into A5956an irritable mood, is a British colloquial expression that dates from 1824, according to the OED. Miff, the noun, meaning a petty quarrel or disagreement dates from much earlier, 1623, according to the OED, but is rarely used these days. The etymology is unknown, but the OED suggests it is perhaps echoic or imitative of a person in such a state. There is no known connection, etymological or otherwise, to tiff.