definitions

whiffler

1
[ hwif-ler, wif- ]
/ ˈʰwɪf lər, ˈwɪf- /
|

noun

a person who frequently shifts opinions, attitudes, interests, etc.
a person who is vacillating or evasive in an argument.

Nearby words

whidah, whidbey island, whiff, whiffet, whiffle, whiffler, whiffletree, whiffy, whig, whig party, whiggish

Origin of whiffler

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

Definition for whiffler (2 of 2)

whiffler

2
[ hwif-ler, wif- ]
/ ˈʰwɪf lər, ˈwɪf- /

noun History/Historical.

an attendant who clears the way for a procession.

Origin of whiffler

2
1530–40; earlier wiffler armed attendant, equivalent to wiffle (variant of Middle English wifle, Old English wifel battle-ax) + -er1
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for whiffler

British Dictionary definitions for whiffler (1 of 2)

whiffler

1
/ (ˈwɪflə) /

noun

a person who whiffles

British Dictionary definitions for whiffler (2 of 2)

whiffler

2
/ (ˈwɪflə) /

noun

archaic an attendant who cleared the way for a procession

Word Origin for whiffler

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