siffie, noun

/ˈsəfi/
Forms:
Also ciphy.
Origin:
AfrikaansShow more Afrikaans, literally ‘little sieve’; so named for the row of holes round the edge of the shell.
Among anglers: the univalve shellfish Haliotis sanguinea of the Haliotidae, commonly used as bait.
1961 Redwing (St. Andrew’s College, Grahamstown) 13Other shellfish in the forms of..Venus ears (ciphy) and limpets are very numerous and plentiful.
1972 Grocott’s Mail 15 Sept. 3Bait collectors should remember that the limit for perlemoen (venus-ear) is five, for siffie 10, for armadillo (saddle-back) six, and for red-bait a cut off weight of 4 lbs.
1975 E. Prov. Herald 30 Oct. 41The angler can take his choice from the following list and if the poenskop are feeding they will take one of them: crab, red bait, whole seacat, seacat tentacle, fish fillet, chokka, ollycrock and siffie (venus ear).
1976 Bait Regulations (Dept of Industries)Venus ear or siffie (Haliotis sanquinae [sic]).
1981 Het Suid-Western 22 Apr.No person shall catch for himself or any other person, purchase, convey, be in possession of more than the following species at any time or at any place: Alikreukel (10), Black Mussel (25), Bloodworm (5), Crab (2), Perlemoen for own use only, not to exceed (5) per day,..Siffie (10), White mussel (50).
1982 Kilburn & Rippey Sea Shells 35Haliotis spadicea...A common species, known to fishermen as the ‘siffie’ (little sieve).
the univalve shellfish Haliotis sanguinea of the Haliotidae, commonly used as bait.
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Afrikaans
sieur, nounn.silver, nounn.
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