whiffler

1
[ hwif-ler, wif- ]

noun
  1. a person who frequently shifts opinions, attitudes, interests, etc.

  2. a person who is vacillating or evasive in an argument.

Origin of whiffler

1
First recorded in 1600–10; whiffle + -er1

Words Nearby whiffler

Other definitions for whiffler (2 of 2)

whiffler2
[ hwif-ler, wif- ]

nounHistory/Historical.
  1. an attendant who clears the way for a procession.

Origin of whiffler

2
First recorded in 1530–40; earlier wiffler “armed attendant,” equivalent to wiffle (variant of Middle English wifle, Old English wifel “battle-ax”) + -er1. The spelling with wh probably arose by asociation with whiff1.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use whiffler in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for whiffler (1 of 2)

whiffler1

/ (ˈwɪflə) /


noun
  1. a person who whiffles

British Dictionary definitions for whiffler (2 of 2)

whiffler2

/ (ˈwɪflə) /


noun
  1. archaic an attendant who cleared the way for a procession

Origin of whiffler

2
C16: from wifle battle-axe, from Old English wifel, of Germanic origin; the attendants originally carried weapons to clear the way

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012