How long is a "moment" or "jiffy"?

Here is an interesting fun fact to know.

The phrase, “I’ll be there in a jiffy” is commonly heard. Generally, the recipients of such message assume that it means people will hurry. But where did the term “jiffy” actually come from? Looking back at the origin of the word can be interesting and enlightening. It will give you an idea about the history of language and the history of time telling.

Basically, a jiffy implies an unspecified amount of time that is assumed to be as brief or as short as possible. There are other interpretations when you look at it from a technical perspective. For example, in science applications, it can refer to several very specific time frames. Probably the most common belief is that it is 0.01 seconds.

There are other interpretations of “jiffy” in other fields. Take the example of computer engineering. If it was 0.01 in science applications, it is referred to as the time frame between successive clock cycles of the microprocessor. If the computer has a 2-gigahertz microprocessor then the “jiffy” is 0.5 nanoseconds. However, if the computer is 3-gigahertz, then the time frame in this case is 0.333. In essence, the interval associated as “jiffy” becomes shorted when the clock speeds up.

But the interpretation of “jiffy” doesn’t stop there because in certain industries, it is used to refer to the time frame required in one altering-current or AC in power utility. In this instance, the cycle is also known as jiffy. In most parts of the North American continent, the jiffy in AC power utility is 1/60 seconds while in most countries; it is 1/50 seconds.

On the other hand, even publications have different interpretations about this word. The term jiffy can be referred as 0.001 seconds or 1nanosecond. As you can see, it is very difficult to provide a clear statement about how long “jiffy” actually is because there are varying interpretations of the word. The accuracy of the definition depends on which industry you’re in and the practices of that particular field. What is important is for you to remember who you’re talking to when you use the word. If you’re using it with your friends though, saying “in a jiffy” is safe enough.

There are various studies that have looked into its actual origin, the exact root of the word remains unknown. There is a theory that it was first mentioned in England to refer to a brief but unspecified time frame in the 1700s.