whiffler
1[hwif-ler, wif-]
|
noun
a person who frequently shifts opinions, attitudes, interests, etc.
a person who is vacillating or evasive in an argument.
Origin of whiffler
1whiffler
2[hwif-ler, wif-]
noun History/Historical.
Origin of whiffler
21530–40; earlier wiffler armed attendant, equivalent to wiffle (variant of Middle English wifle, Old English wifel battle-ax) + -er1
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for whiffler
Historical Examples of whiffler
The ‘whiffler’ was the official sword-flourisher of the Corporation.
The Romany RyeGeorge Borrow
In any show he will be one, though he be but a whiffler or a torch-bearer, and bears down strangers with the story of his actions.
Superintendent Whiffler came over, by-and-by, to see his successor.
Mr. Whiffler sighs, ‘these children, Saunders, make one quite an old man.’
Sketches by BozCharles Dickens
At length Mrs. Whiffler is heard to say, ‘Mr. Saunders, shall I give you some pudding?’
Sketches by BozCharles Dickens
whiffler
1noun
whiffler
2noun
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
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