Emily Dickinson Lexicon

WHIF'FLE, n.

Anciently, a fife or small flute.

WHIF'FLE, v.i.

To disperse with a putt; scatter. – More.

WHIF'FLE, v.t. [D. weifelen, to waver; zweeven, to hover. This accords in sense with G. zweifeln, to doubt, which would seem to be from zwei, two, or its root. The G. has also schweifen, to rove or wander, which seems to be allied to sweep. The D. has also twyffelen, to doubt, from twee, two, or its root; Sw. tvifla, Dan. tvivler, from the root of two. Yet whiffle seems to be directly from whiff.]

To start, shift and turn; to change from one opinion or course to another; to use evasions; to prevaricate; to be fickle and unsteady. A person of whiffling and unsteady turn of mind, can not keep close to a point of a controversy. – Watts.

WHIF'FLER, n.

1. One who whiffles or frequently changes his opinion or course; one who uses shifts and evasions in argument.
2. A harbinger; perhaps one who blows the horn or trumpet. – Shak.
3. A young man who goes before a company in London on occasions of public solemnity. – Cyc.

WHIF'FLE-TREE, or WHIP'PLE-TREE, n.

The bar to which the traces of a carriage are fastened for draught.

WHIF'FLING, n.

Prevarication.

WHIF'FLING, ppr.

Shifting and turning; prevaricating; shuffling.

WHIG, n.¹ [Sax. hwæg. See Whey.]

Acidulated whey, sometimes mixed with buttermilk and sweet herbs; used as a cooling beverage. [Local.]

WHIG, n.² [Ash, in his dictionary, informs us that this word is from whiggam, a term used in Scotland in driving horses; whiggamor, one who drives horses. In 1648, a party of these people marched to Edinburgh to oppose the king and the duke of Hamilton; and hence the name of whig was given to the party opposed to the court.]

One of a political party which had its origin in England in the seventeenth century, in the reign of Charles I. or II., when great contests existed respecting the royal prerogatives and the rights of the people. Those who supported the king in his high claims, were called tories, and the advocates of popular rights were called whigs. During the revolution in the United States, the friends and supporters of the war and the principles of the revolution, were called whigs, and those who opposed them, were called tories and royalists. Where then, when tories scarce get clear, / Shall whigs and congresses appear? – M'Fingal.

WHIG'GAR-CHY, n.

Government by whigs. [Cant.] – Swift.

WHIG'GER-Y, n.

The principles of a Whig.

WHIG'GISH, a.

Pertaining to whigs; partaking of the principles of whigs. – Swift.

WHIG'GISM, n.

The principles of a Whig. – Swell.

WHILE, adv.

1. During the time that. While I write, you sleep.
2. As long as. Use your memory, and you will sensibly experience a gradual improvement, while you take care not to overload it. – Watts.
3. At the same time that. – Pope.

WHILE, n. [Sax. hwile; Goth. hweila; G. weil; D. wyl; time, while; Dan. hvile, Sw. hvila, repose; W. çwyl, a turn, Ir. foil. See the verb.]

Time; space of time, or continued duration. He was some while in this country. One while we thought him innocent. Pausing a while, thus to herself she mus'd. – Milton. Worth while, worth the time which it requires; worth the time and pains; hence, worth the expense. It is not always worth while for a man to prosecute for small debts.

WHILE, v.t.¹ [W. çwylaw, to turn, to run a course, to bustle; Eth. ወዐለ waala, to pass the time, to spend the day or life, to remain; Amharic, id.; Dan. hviler, Sw. hvila, rest or repose; Ir. foillim, to stay, to rest, to tarry; G. weilen, verweilen, to abide, to stay; D. verwylen, id. Qu. the identity of these words.]

To while away, as time, in English, is to loiter; or more generally, to cause time to pass away pleasantly, without irksomeness; as, we while away time in amusements or diversions. Let us while away this life. – Pope.

WHILE, v.t.²

To loiter. – Spectator.

WHIL-ERE, adv. [while and ere.]

A little while ago. [Obs.]

WHIL'ING, ppr.

Loitering; passing time agreeably, with out impatience or tediousness.

WHILK, n.

A shell. [See Whelk.]

WHI'LOM, adv. [Sax. hwilon.]

Formerly; once; of old. [Obs.] – Spenser.

WHILST, adv. [or v. t.]

for while, is improper. Whiles is not used.

WHIM, n. [Ice. hwima; W. çwim, a brisk motion, a turn; çwimiaw, to move round briskly; Sp. quimera, a whim, a wild fancy, a scuffle.]

1. Properly, a sudden turn or start of the mind; a freak.
2. Fancy; a capricious notion. We say, every man has his whims. [See Freak and Caprice.] All the superfluous whims relate. – Swift.
3. A low wit; a cant word. – Addison.

WHIM'PER, v.t. [G. wimmern.]

To cry with a low, whining, broken voice; as, a child whimpers. – Locke.

WHIM'PER-ING, n. [supra.]

A low muttering cry.