whiffler

[ hwif-ler, wif- ]

/ ˈʰwɪf lər, ˈwɪf- /

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noun

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

a person who is vacillating or evasive in an argument.

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Origin of whiffler

First recorded in 1600–10; whiffle + -er¹

Words nearby whiffler

whidah, Whidbey Island, whiff, whiffet, whiffle, whiffler, whiffletree, whiffy, whig, Whiggish, Whiggism

Other definitions for whiffler (2 of 2)

whiffler²

[ hwif-ler, wif- ]

/ ˈʰwɪf lər, ˈwɪf- /

noun History/Historical.

an attendant who clears the way for a procession.

Origin of whiffler

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. 2023

How to use whiffler in a sentence

The ‘whiffler’ was the official sword-flourisher of the Corporation.
The Romany Rye|George 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.
Character Writings of the 17th Century|Various
Superintendent Whiffler came over, by-and-by, to see his successor.
The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 09, No. 51, January, 1862|Various
Mr. Whiffler sighs, ‘these children, Saunders, make one quite an old man.’
Sketches by Boz|Charles Dickens

At length Mrs. Whiffler is heard to say, ‘Mr. Saunders, shall I give you some pudding?’
Sketches by Boz|Charles Dickens

British Dictionary definitions for whiffler (1 of 2)

whiffler¹

/ (ˈwɪflə) /

noun

a person who whiffles

British Dictionary definitions for whiffler (2 of 2)

whiffler²

/ (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