Definition of "whiffle"

whiffle

/ˈ(h)wɪfl̩/

noun
plural whiffles
1. A short blow or gust.
2. (Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Maine) A male haircut done with electric clippers.
3. (obsolete) Something small or insignificant; a trifle.
4. (obsolete) A fife or small flute.
verb
third-person singular simple present whiffles, present participle whiffling, simple past and past participle whiffled
1. To blow a short gust.
2. To waffle, talk aimlessly.
3. (UK) To waste time.
4. To travel quickly with an accompanying wind-like sound; whizz, whistle along.
5. (ornithology, of a bird) To descend rapidly from a height once the decision to land has been made, involving fast side-slipping first one way and then the other.
6. (intransitive) To waver, or shake, as if moved by gusts of wind; to shift, turn, or veer about.
  Quotations
  [S]ometimes it may happen that ſuch a Cloud may appear ſeveral Mornings and Evenings, and we may not feel the effects of it, or but very little; yet we always provide againſt it; for a North never comes without ſuch a foreboding Cloud. But if the VVinds also vvhiffle about to the South, with fair flattering VVeather, it never fails.
  1699, William Dampier, “Of Storms”, in Voyages and Descriptions. Vol. II. […], London: […] James Knapton, […], part (please specify |part=I to III), page 61
7. (transitive) To wave or shake quickly; to cause to whiffle.
8. To change from one opinion or course to another; to use evasions; to prevaricate; to be fickle.
  Quotations
  [A] Perſon of whiffling and unſteady Turn of Mind, who cannot keep cloſe to a Point of Controverſy, […]
  1741, I[saac] Watts, “Rules of Improvement by Conversation”, in The Improvement of the Mind: Or, A Supplement to the Art of Logick: […], London: […] James Brackstone, […], paragraph XXVII, page 144
9. To disperse with, or as with, a whiff, or puff; to scatter.
  Quotations
  This is a plain and obvious ſenſe of this Promiſe, […] againſt ſuch as would whiffle away all theſe Truths by reſolving them into a mere moral Allegorie.
  1669, Henry More, “The Interpretation of the Epistle to the Church of Laodicea”, in An Exposition of the Seven Epistles to the Seven Churches; […], London: […] James Flesher, paragraph 13, page 163

Definition of "whiffle"

whiffle

noun

verb

Quotations

Quotations

Quotations