whiffler

¹

[ hwif-ler, wif- ]

noun

1. a person who frequently shifts opinions, attitudes, interests, etc.
2. a person who is vacillating or evasive in an argument.

whiffler

²

[ hwif-ler, wif- ]

noun

, History/Historical.

1. an attendant who clears the way for a procession.

whiffler

¹

/ ˈwɪflə /

noun

1. archaic.
   an attendant who cleared the way for a procession

whiffler

²

/ ˈwɪflə /

noun

1. a person who whiffles

Word History and Origins

Origin of whiffler¹

First recorded in 1600–10; whiffle + -er ¹

Origin of whiffler²

First recorded in 1530–40; earlier wiffler “armed attendant,” equivalent to wiffle (variant of Middle English wifle, Old English wifel “battle-ax”) + -er ¹. The spelling with wh probably arose by asociation with whiff ¹( def ).

Word History and Origins

Origin of whiffler¹

C16: from wifle battle-axe, from Old English wifel, of Germanic origin; the attendants originally carried weapons to clear the way