On the Commodore 64, approximately 1/60th of a second, and equals one machine cycle. The timespan is the same on both NTSC and PAL models of the Commodore 64.
If I can squeeze one more jiffy out of the player-movement routine, there will be enough time to do a smooth-scroll routine before the screen refreshes.
1. You Scratched my CD
2. Do you want FRRRRIIIIIIES with that?
3. sawarrr (pronounce with a chinese twang) what are you doing sawarrrrr....JIFFY
4. JIMMAYYYYYY
5. AFLAAAAAAAC