whiffle

noun
/ˈ(h)wɪfl̩/

Etymology

1662, in sense “flutter as blown by wind”, as whiff + -le (“(frequentative)”) and (onomatopoeia) sound of wind, particularly a leaf fluttering in unsteady wind; compare whiff. Sense “something small or insignificant” is from 1680.

  1. inherited from wefan — “to weave
  2. inherited from *webʰ- — “to braid, weave
  3. inherited from wafian — “to wave
  4. inherited from wef
  5. suffixed as whiffle — “whiff + le

Definitions

  1. A short blow or gust.

  2. A male haircut done with electric clippers.

  3. Something small or insignificant

    Something small or insignificant; a trifle.

  4. + 10 more definitions
    1. A fife or small flute.

    2. To blow a short gust.

    3. To waffle, talk aimlessly.

    4. To waste time.

    5. To travel quickly with an accompanying wind-like sound

      To travel quickly with an accompanying wind-like sound; whizz, whistle along.

    6. To descend rapidly from a height once the decision to land has been made, involving fast…

      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.

    7. To waver, or shake, as if moved by gusts of wind

      To waver, or shake, as if moved by gusts of wind; to shift, turn, or veer about.

    8. To wave or shake quickly

      To wave or shake quickly; to cause to whiffle.

    9. To change from one opinion or course to another

      To change from one opinion or course to another; to use evasions; to prevaricate; to be fickle.

      • [A] Perſon of whiffling and unſteady Turn of Mind, who cannot keep cloſe to a Point of Controverſy, […]
    10. To disperse with, or as with, a whiff, or puff

      To disperse with, or as with, a whiff, or puff; to scatter.

      • 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.

The neighborhood

Derived

wiffleball

Vish — recursive loop

No curated loop yet for whiffle. Loops are being traced one word at a time while the ingestion pipeline matures.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA