whiff Meaning, Definition & Usage

noun a short light gust of air
puff; puff of air.
noun a lefteye flounder found in coastal waters from New England to Brazil
noun a strikeout resulting from the batter swinging at and missing the ball for the third strike
verb perceive by inhaling through the nose
sniff.
- sniff the perfume
verb drive or carry as if by a puff of air
- The gust of air whiffed away the clouds
verb strike out by swinging and missing the pitch charged as the third
verb smoke and exhale strongly
puff.
- puff a cigar
- whiff a pipe
verb utter with a puff of air
- whiff out a prayer

OE. weffe vapor, whiff, probably of imitative origin; cf. Dan. vift a puff, gust, W. chwiff a whiff, puff.

A sudden expulsion of air from the mouth; a quick puff or slight gust, as of air or smoke.
But with the whiff and wind of his fell sword The unnerved father falls. Shak.

The skipper, he blew a whiff from his pipe, And a scornful laugh laughed he. Longfellow.
A glimpse; a hasty view. Prov. Eng.
(Zoöl.) The marysole, or sail fluke.

imperfect & past participle Whiffed ; present participle & verbal noun Whiffing

To throw out in whiffs; to consume in whiffs; to puff.
To carry or convey by a whiff, or as by a whiff; to puff or blow away.
Old Empedocles, . . . who, when he leaped into Etna, having a dry, sear body, and light, the smoke took him, and whiffed him up into the moon. B. Jonson.