Whiff

Quick meaning: Whiff is a noun meaning A brief, gentle breeze; a light gust of air; a waft.

Meaning

A brief, gentle breeze; a light gust of air; a waft.

More Meanings

1. A short inhalation or exhalation of breath, especially when accompanied by smoke from a cigarette or pipe.
2. An odour (usually unpleasant) carried briefly through the air.
3. A small quantity of cloud, smoke, vapour, etc.; specifically (obsolete), chiefly in take the whiff: a puff of tobacco smoke.
4. A flag used as a signal.
5. A slight sign of something; a burst, a glimpse, a hint.
6. A slight attack or touch.
7. Any of a number of flatfish such as (dated) the lemon sole (Microstomus kitt) and now, especially, the megrim (Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis) and (with a descriptive word) a species of large-tooth flounder or sand flounder (family Paralichthyidae).

Example Sentences

Four pipes after dinner he conſtantly ſmokes; / And ſeaſons his whifs with impertinent jokes.

Their Enſignes ſhine, and Dragons fell that therein pictur'd ſhow, / VVave to and fro vvith vvhiffes of vvind, as it doth gently blovv.

Purrus at Pryam driues, but all in rage, / Strikes vvide, but vvith the vvhiffe and vvinde / Of his fell ſvvord, th'unnerued father falles.

"Give her a whiff of fresh air with the bellows, Charley," said Mr. Dawkins; "and you slap her hands, Fagin, while Bill undoes the petticoats."

Word Forms

• whiffs
• whiffing
• whiffed

Synonyms for whiff

Depending on context, synonyms include puff, sniff, waff, waif, wheft, stinking.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include puff, sniff, blast, waft, surge, burst.

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