- whiffle
- whiffle (v.) "flicker or flutter as if blown by the wind," 1660s; see WHIFF (Cf. whiff). The noun meaning "something light or insignificant" (1670s) is preserved in whiffle-ball (1931).
Etymology dictionary. 2014.
whiffle
Look at other dictionaries:
Whiffle — Whif fle, v. t. [1913 Webster] 1. To disperse with, or as with, a whiff, or puff; to scatter. [Obs.] Dr. H. More. [1913 Webster] 2. To wave or shake quickly; to cause to whiffle. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Whiffle — Whif fle, n. A fife or small flute. [Obs.] Douce. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Whiffle — Whif fle, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Whiffled}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Whiffling}.] [Freq. of whiff to puff, perhaps influenced by D. weifelen to waver.] [1913 Webster] 1. To waver, or shake, as if moved by gusts of wind; to shift, turn, or veer about.… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
whiffle — [hwif′əl, wif′əl] vi. whiffled, whiffling [freq. of WHIFF] 1. to blow fitfully; blow in puffs or gusts: said of the wind 2. to shift or veer about; vacillate vt. to blow or scatter with or as with a puff of wind … English World dictionary
whiffle ball — ☆ whiffle ball n. 〚< Wiffle, a trademark〛 1. any of various lightweight, hollow plastic balls with several large air holes that cause them to abruptly curve or sink when thrown, hit, etc. 2. an informal baseball like game played with a whiffle… … Universalium
whiffle ball — ☆ whiffle ball n. [< Wiffle, a trademark] 1. any of various lightweight, hollow plastic balls with several large air holes that cause them to abruptly curve or sink when thrown, hit, etc. 2. an informal baseball like game played with a whiffle … English World dictionary
whiffle — verb (whiffled; whiffling) Etymology: probably frequentative of whiff Date: 1568 intransitive verb 1. a. of the wind to blow unsteadily or in gusts b. vacillate 2. to emit or produce a light whistling or puffing sound … New Collegiate Dictionary
whiffle — whiffling … Dictionary of ichthyology
whiffle — /hwif euhl, wif /, v., whiffled, whiffling. v.i. 1. to blow in light or shifting gusts or puffs, as the wind; veer or toss about irregularly. 2. to shift about; vacillate; be fickle. v.t. 3. to blow with light, shifting gusts. [1550 60; WHIFF +… … Universalium
whiffle — 1. noun A short blow or gust 2. verb a) to blow a short gust b) to waffle, talk aimlessly … Wiktionary
