Definition of "whiff"

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

A short inhalation or exhalation of breath, especially when accompanied by smoke from a cigarette or pipe.  quotations

1. (by extension, archaic) A cigarette or small cigar.

An odour (usually unpleasant) carried briefly through the air.  quotations  examples

(obsolete) , chiefly in take the whiff: a puff of tobacco smoke.  quotations

A flag used as a signal.  quotations  examples

(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).  examples

(figuratively)

1. A slight sign of something; a burst, a glimpse, a hint.  quotations  examples

   Quotations

   • [I]t reflects to the diſrepute of our Miniſters […] that after all this light of the Goſpel vvhich is, and is to be, and all this continuall preaching, they ſhould be ſtill frequented vvith ſuch an unprincipl'd, unedify'd, and laick rabble, as that the vvhiffe of every nevv pamphlet ſhould ſtagger them out of thir catechiſm, and Chriſtian vvalking.

     1644, John Milton, Areopagitica; a Speech of Mr. John Milton for the Liberty of Unlicenc’d Printing, to the Parlament of England, London: [s.n.], pages 23–24

   • [N]othing can be more unhappy, more diſhonourable, more unſafe for all, then vvhen a vviſe, grave, and honourable Parlament ſhall have labourd, debated, argu'd, conſulted, and, as he himſelfe ſpeaks, contributed for the public good all their Counſels in common, to be then fruſtrated, diſapoiunted, deny'd and repuls'd by the ſingle vvhiffe of a negative, from the mouth of one vvillfull man; […]

     1649, J[ohn] Milton, “XXVII. Intitl’d to the Prince of Wales”, in ΕΙΚΟΝΟΚΛΆΣΤΗΣ [Eikonoklástēs] […], London: […] Matthew Simmons, […], page 222

   • [A] vvhiff of military pride had puff'd out his ſhirt at the vvriſt; and upon that in a black leather thong clipp'd into a taſſel beyond the knot, hung the Corporal's ſtick— […]

     1767, [Laurence Sterne], chapter IX, in The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman, volume IX, London: […] T. Becket and P. A. Dehondt, […], page 12

   • They had their little differences, too; / Their jealous whiffs, which never any change meant: […]

     1817 (date written), [Lord Byron], “Stanza L”, in Beppo, a Venetian Story, London: John Murray, […], published 1818, page 26

   • But there seemed to be not a whiff of life left in either of the unfortunates.

     1878 January–December, Thomas Hardy, “Sights and Sounds Draw the Wanderers Together”, in The Return of the Native […], volume III, London: Smith, Elder, & Co., […], published 1878, book V (The Discovery), page 243

   • This little whiff of temper seemed to cool Silver down. He had been growing nettled before, but now he pulled himself together.

     1881–1882, Robert Louis Stevenson, “Silver’s Embassy”, in Treasure Island, London, Paris: Cassell & Company, published 14 November 1883, part IV (The Stockade), page 163

   • This was a rare whiff of the big-time for a club whose staple diet became top-flight football for so long—the glamour was in short supply, however. Thousands of empty seats and the driving Yorkshire rain saw to that.

     2012 September 23, Ben Smith, “Leeds United 2 – 1 Everton”, in BBC Sport‎, archived from the original on 24 May 2021

   • I can tell you first-hand that we are dealing with a regime that is not being forthright and will seize upon the faintest whiff of trepidation. This is a test to see how far they can push us before we break.

     2014 February 14, Kenneth Lin, “Chapter 18”, in House of Cards, season 2, episode 5, spoken by Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey)

2. A slight attack or touch.  examples

3. A characteristic quality of something; a flavour, a savour, a taste.  examples

4. A sound like that of air passing through a small opening; a short or soft whistle.  quotations  examples

   Quotations

   • Nic. anſvver'd little to that, but immediately pull'd out a Boatſvvain's VVhistle; upon the firſt VVhiff, the Tradeſmen came jumping into the Room, […]

     1712, Humphry Polesworth [pseudonym; John Arbuthnot], “The Sequel of the History of the Meeting at the ’’Salutation’’”, in Lewis Baboon Turned Honest, and John Bull Politician. Being the Fourth Part of Law is a Bottomless-Pit. […], London: […] John Morphew, […], page 5

5. (sports, chiefly US, slang) A failure to hit a ball in various sports (for example, golf); a miss.

   1. (baseball) From the batter's perspective: a strike.  examples

(archaic) An expulsion of explosive or shot.  quotations

(nautical) An outrigged boat for one person propelled by oar.  examples

(obsolete) A sip of an alcoholic beverage.  quotations

(transitive)

1. To carry or convey (something) by, or as by, a whiff or puff of air; to blow, puff, or waft away.  quotations  examples

   Quotations

   • There are in all but three vvayes of going thither [to the moon]. […] [The] third, Old Empedocles vvay; vvho vvhen he leaped into Ætna, having a drie ſeare bodie, and light, the ſmoake took him and vvhift him up into the Moone, vvhere he lives yet vvaving up and dovvne like a feather, all foot and embers comming out of that cole-pit; our Poet met him, and talkt vvith him.

     1620 January 17 (first performance; Gregorian calendar), Benjamin Jonson [i.e., Ben Jonson], “Newes from the New World Discover’d in the Moon. A Masque, […]”, in The Workes of Benjamin Jonson. The Second Volume. […] (Second Folio), London: […] Richard Meighen, published 1640–1641, page 42

   • Five weeks ago, when they kissed the hand of Majesty, the mode he took got nothing but censure; and then his 'sincere attachment,' how was it scornfully whiffed aside!

     1837, Thomas Carlyle, “Mercury de Breze”, in The French Revolution: A History […], volume I (The Bastille), London: Chapman and Hall, book V (The Third Estate), pages 160–161

   • The assemblage rose, whiffed ceremony to the winds, and rushed for the door like a mob; […]

     1889, Mark Twain [pseudonym; Samuel Langhorne Clemens], “A Royal Banquet”, in A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, New York, N.Y.: Charles L. Webster & Company, page 206

   • [Alexander von] Humboldt reached the peak at eight o'clock suffering from cold; we arrived at six, perspiring from the climb to face the same bitter, westerly wind which searched our marrow as it tore over the world. It whiffed by us steam and sulphurous vapors from the caldron, the Echeyde (Hell) of the Guanches; the La Caldera Diabla (Devil's Caldron) of the Spanish peasantry, in which all food of hell is cooked.

     1918 August, Charles Wellington Furlong, “Climbing the Shoulders of Atlas”, in Harper’s Magazine, volume CXXXVII, number DCCCXIX, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers, […], page 433, column 1

2. To say (something) with an exhalation of breath.  quotations  examples

   Quotations

   • [H]e ſat ſolitary and penſive vvith his pipe—looking at his lame leg—then vvhiffing out a ſentimental heigh ho! vvhich mixing vvith the ſmoak, incommoded no one mortal.

     1765, [Laurence Sterne], chapter XXVI, in The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman, volume VIII, London: […] T. Becket and P. A. Dehondt, […], page 119

   • They crossed themselves, and whiffed out a protective prayer or two.

     1889, Mark Twain [pseudonym; Samuel Langhorne Clemens], “The First Newspaper”, in A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, New York, N.Y.: Charles L. Webster & Company, page 343

3. To inhale or exhale (smoke from tobacco, etc.) from a cigarette, pipe, or other smoking implement; to smoke (a cigarette, pipe, etc.); to puff.  quotations  examples

   Quotations

   • VVhat pleaſure tak'ſt thou in that breath, vvhich dravvs & vvhiffs perpetuall fears?

     a. 1645 (date written), Fr[ancis] Quarles, “The Plague-affrighted Mans Danger. Meditat[ion] XVI.”, in Judgement and Mercie for Afflicted Souls: Or Meditations, Soliloquies, and Prayers, London: […] R. Daniel for V[rsula] Q[uarles], published 1646, page 92

   • […] Richard, knowing his retainer's zest for conspiracy too well to seek him anywhere but in the part most favoured with shelter and concealment, found him furtively whiffing tobacco.

     1859, George Meredith, “Indicates the Approaches of Fever”, in The Ordeal of Richard Feverel. A History of Father and Son. […], volume II, London: Chapman and Hall, page 126

   • There was silence as they [the Shawnees] whiffed at the council pipes. Then a tall chief arose and glanced at the handful of whites and at his own three hundred along the walls of the council house.

     1902, Eva Emery Dye, “Mulberry Hill”, in The Conquest: The True Story of Lewis and Clark, Chicago, Ill.: A[lexander] C[aldwell] McClurg & Company, book I (When Red Men Ruled), page 90

4. To breathe in or sniff (an odour); to smell.  quotations  examples

   Quotations

   • Come, come, my deare, and let us both retire / And vvhiffe the dainties of the fragrant fields: […]

     1635, Fra[ncis] Quarles, “Canto VII. Cant[icles] VII. XI.”, in Emblemes, London: […] G[eorge] M[iller] and sold at at Iohn Marriots shope […], book IV, stanza 1, page 209

   • The kalender, […] hath late deſcry'd / That evill affected planet Mars, ally'd / To temporizing Mercury, conjoyn'd / I'th'houſe of Death; […] That Houſe; vvhich like a Sun in this our Orbe, / VVhiffes up the Belgick fumes, and does abſorbe / From every Soile rich vapours, […]

     a. 1645 (date written), Fra[ncis] Quarles, “Eglogue X”, in The Shepheards Oracles: Delivered in Certain Eglogues, London: […] M. F. for John Marriot and Richard Marriot, […], published 1645 (indicated as 1646), page 119

   • He glanced once at the pines, going farther away, whiffed at the pleasant odor of the grape blooms, waved his hand to the roses, in farewell, perhaps, lifted his face to the blue heaven— […] then, wearing that same old look of his mother's, he turned, without a word, and re-entered the prison.

     1891 October, Will Allen Dromgoole, “A Grain of Gold”, in B[enjamin] O[range] Flower, editor, The Arena, volume IV, number XXIII, Boston, Mass.: The Arena Publishing Co., pages 631–632

5. (slang)

   1. (archaic or dated) To shoot (someone) with a firearm; hence, to assassinate or kill (someone).  quotations

      Quotations

      • Arms are the one thing needful: with arms we are an unconquerable man-defying National Guard; without arms, a rabble to be whiffed with grapeshot.

        1837, Thomas Carlyle, “Storm and Victory”, in The French Revolution: A History […], volume I (The Bastille), London: Chapman and Hall, book V (The Third Estate), page 187

      • It was pointed out that troops would not always remain in the open to be whiffed out of existence by shrapnel. Rather would they get under cover at what speed they might. So a shell to deal with entrenchments, buildings, and fortifications was indicated.

        1916 January, Pousse Cailloux, “75’s”, in Blackwood’s Magazine, American edition, volume CXCIX, number MCCIII, New York, N.Y.: The Leonard Scott Publication Co., Barr Ferree, prop[rietor] […], section I, page 59, column 1

      • You shot Geiger to get it. Last night in the rain. It was dandy shooting weather. The trouble is he wasn't alone when you whiffed him. Either you didn't notice that, which seems unlikely, or you got the wind up and lammed.

        1939, Raymond Chandler, chapter 14, in The Big Sleep, New York, N.Y.: Vintage Crime/Black Lizard, published August 1992, page 82

   2. (US, baseball) Of a pitcher: to strike out (a batter); to fan.  examples

6. (obsolete) To consume (an alcoholic beverage).  quotations

   Quotations

   • Hee therefore that would ſtriue to faſhion his leggs to his ſilke ſtockins, and his proud gate to his broad garters, let him whiffe downe theſe obſeruations; […]

     1609, Thomas Dekker, “The Guls Horne-booke: […]: How a Gallant should Behaue Himselfe in Powles Walkes”, in Alexander B[alloch] Grosart, editor, The Non-dramatic Works of Thomas Dekker. […] (The Huth Library), volume II, London, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire: […] [Hazell, Watson, & Viney] for private circulation only, published 1885, page 230

   • And when Gargantua whiffed the great draught, they thought to have been drowned in his mouth, and the flood of wine had almost carried them away into the gulf of his stomack.

     1653, François Rabelais, Thomas Urquhart and Peter Anthony Motteux, transl., “How Gargantua Did Eate Up Six Pilgrims in a Sallet”, in The Works of Francis Rabelais, Doctor in Physick: Containing Five Books of the Lives, Heroick Deeds, and Sayings of Gargantua, and His Sonne Pantagruel. […], London: […] [Thomas Ratcliffe and Edward Mottershead] for Richard Baddeley, […]; republished in volume I, London: […] Navarre Society […], book the first, page 112

(intransitive)

1. To move in a way that causes a light gust of air, or a whistling sound.  examples

2. To be carried, or move as if carried, by a puff of air; to waft.  quotations  examples

   Quotations

   • […] I have sought to stay myself, in falling, against what looked to be a solid trunk, and the whole thing has whiffed away at my touch like a sheet of paper.

     1889, Robert Louis Stevenson, “The Master’s Wanderings”, in The Master of Ballantrae. […], London, Paris: Cassell & Company, […], pages 78–79

3. To smoke a cigarette, pipe, or other smoking implement.  quotations  examples

   Quotations

   • Morrow Captaine Tucca, vvill you vvhiffe this morning?

     1601 (first performance), Thomas Dekker, Satiro-mastix. Or The Untrussing of the Humorous Poet. […], London: […] [Edward Allde] for Edward White, […], published 1602, signature C4, verso

   • The brawny threſher whirling faſt his flail, / Pauſes, and takes a pinch each ſheaf betwixt; / The Squire too whiffeth, o'er his mug of ale; / And eke the Parſon, o'er ſome crabbed text, / Sucketh his pipe, and ſeeth the doctrine leſs perplext.

     1789 September 19, “Recovered Fragments of Spenser (Continued.)”, in I[ohann] W[ilhelm] von Archenholz, editor, The British Mercury, or Annals of History, Politics, Manners, Literature, Arts, etc. of the British Empire, volume X, number 38, Hamburg: […] B. C. Hoffman, stanza XXI, page 380

4. To smell; to sniff.  examples

5. (slang)

   1. To give off or have an unpleasant smell; to stink.  quotations  examples

      Quotations

      • She [a dead cat]—is—there, gettin' ready to surprise 'em. Presently she'll begin to whisper to 'em in their dreams. Then she'll whiff. Golly, how she'll whiff!

        1899 January, Rudyard Kipling, “An Unsavoury Interlude”, in Stalky & Co., London: Macmillan & Co., published 1899, page 79

      • The second trauma was sharing a boat with all the foreigners who were beginning to whiff somewhat and had things crawling out of their beards, having spent days on end reaching the ferry on their bikes.

        2007, Chris Walker, with Neil Bramwell, “Tourist Stalker”, in Stalker!: Chris Walker: The Autobiography, London: HarperSport, HarperCollinsPublishers, page 31

   2. (US, chiefly sports) Especially in baseball or golf: to completely miss hitting a ball; hence (baseball), of a batter: to strike out; to fan.  quotations  examples

      Quotations

      • "Casey Bat". You can't help but swing this bat with all your might. There's a good chance that you may just whiff.

        1995, HAL Laboratory, EarthBound, Nintendo, Super Nintendo Entertainment System

   3. (by extension) To fail spectacularly.  quotations  examples

      Quotations

      • Or consider an alternative [imaginary] exhibit, in some side gallery, that sadly reflects on an enormous lost opportunity. […] This is a dark, dead end in the Biden library: A once mighty nation is served its toughest challenge yet, and it whiffs.

        2021 June 30, Farhad Manjoo, “Democrats have a year to save the planet”, in The New York Times‎, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, archived from the original on 30 June 2021

   4. (video games) In fighting games, to execute a move that fails to hit the opponent.  examples

6. (fishing) To catch fish by dragging a handline near the surface of the water from a moving boat.  examples

(informal) Having a strong or unpleasant odour.  quotations  examples

Used to indicate a sound like that of air passing through a small opening, that is, a short or soft whistle.  quotations  examples