Whiff

/(h)wɪf/ · noun

Meaning

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

Definitions by Sense

1. A brief, gentle breeze; a light gust of air; a waft.
2. A short inhalation or exhalation of breath, especially when accompanied by smoke from a cigarette or pipe.
3. An odour (usually unpleasant) carried briefly through the air.
4. A small quantity of cloud, smoke, vapour, etc.; specifically (obsolete), chiefly in take the whiff: a puff of tobacco smoke.
5. A flag used as a signal.
6. 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).
7. A slight sign of something; a burst, a glimpse, a hint.
8. A slight attack or touch.

Example Sentences

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

Now as the VVinde, buffing vpon a Hill / VVith roaring breath againſt a ready Mill, / VVhirls vvith a vvhiff the ſails of ſvvelling clout, / The ſails doo ſvving the vvinged ſhaft about.

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

"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."

Sog[liardo]. […] [D]oe you profeſſe theſe ſleights in Tabacco? / […] / Shift. Yes as ſoone ſir; he ſhall receiue the 1, 2, and 3 VVhiffe, if it pleaſe him, & (vpon the receit) take his horſe, drinke his three cups of Canarie, and expoſe one at Hounſlovv, a ſecond at Stanes, and a third at Bagſhot.

I was yesterday in a coffee-house not far from the Royal Exchange, where I observed three persons in close conference over a pipe of tobacco; upon which, having filled one for my own use, I lighted it at the little wax candle that stood before them: and, after having thrown in two or three whiffs amongst them, sat down and made one of the company.

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

Gaffar Andrevvs teſtified no remarkable Emotion, he bleſſed and kiſſed her, but complained bitterly, that he vvanted his Pipe, not having had a VVhiff that Morning.

Synonyms for whiff

Antonyms for whiff

Related Words

Word Forms

• whiffs
• whiffing
• whiffed
• more whiff
• most whiff

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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