different between biffin vs boffin

English

Alternative forms

• beefing

Etymology

Possibly from beef, because of the red colour.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?b?f?n/

Noun

biffin (plural biffins)

1. A deep-red cooking apple native to Britain.
2. Such an apple baked and flattened as a snack, popular in Norfolk.

French

Noun

biffin m (plural biffins)

1. chiffonier
2. (informal, military) infantryman

English

Etymology

Origin unknown; a number of possible etymologies have been suggested, but no conclusive evidence exists.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?b?f?n/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /?b?f?n/
• Rhymes: -?f?n
• Hyphenation: bof?fin

Noun

boffin (plural boffins)

1. (Australia, Britain, informal) An engineer or scientist, especially one engaged in technological or military research. [from 1930s]

   Synonym: backroom boy
2. (Australia, Britain, informal, by extension) A person with specialized knowledge or skills, especially one who is socially awkward; (in a weaker sense) an intellectual; a smart person.

   Synonyms: brain, brainiac, egghead; see also Thesaurus:intelligent person

Derived terms

• astro-boffin
• boff (possibly related)
• boffinery, boffinry

Translations

See also

• mad scientist
• egghead

References

Further reading

• boffin on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• Michael Quinion (8 February 2003) , “Boffin”, in World Wide Words