whiffle

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 + -LE]

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • 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 — (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

  • 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 — 1. noun A short blow or gust 2. verb a) to blow a short gust b) to waffle, talk aimlessly …   Wiktionary

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