whifflern.1
/ˈwɪfl̩ə/, /ˈwɪflə/, U.S. /ˈ(h)wɪf(ə)lər/ Obsolete exc. Historical.
a. One of a body of attendants armed with a javelin, battle-axe, sword, or staff, and wearing a chain, employed to keep the way clear for a procession or at some public spectacle. Whifflers formed a regular part of the Corporation procession at Norwich till 1835; they were employed also on 11 September 1848, when the then Duke of Cambridge attended the triennial musical festival.The sense ‘piper, fifer’ found in dictionaries from Kersey's ed. of Phillips (1706) onwards is baseless.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > office > holder of office > ceremonial officials > [noun] > official who clears the way
whiffler1539
society > authority > subjection > service > servant > personal or domestic servant > attendant or personal servant > [noun] > one who clears the way
whiffler1539
marshal's man1600
marshalman1763
1539 in Archaeologia 32 33 The chamberlayn & councellors of the cytye, & the aldermens deputyes whiche were assigned to be wyffelers on horsebacke, were all yn cotes of whyte damaske..wt great chaynes abowte theyre necks, & propre javilyns or battle axes yn theyre hands... The wyffelers on fote were iiij. C propre lyght persones apparellyd yn whyte sylke or buffe jerkyns,..every man havyng a slaugh sworde or a javelyn to kepe the people yn araye, wt chaynes abowte theyre necks.
1544 in R. Sanderson Rymer's Fœdera (1719) XV. 53 [At the King's departure from Calais] Furst, the Drommes and Viffleurs, then the Trompets, then [etc.].
1544 in Lett. & Papers Henry VIII XIX. ii. 305 The captain of the Spaniards..asketh allowance for the wages of himself, his petty captain, his standard bearer, drum, fife, wifler, surgeon and priest.
1556 J. Heywood Spider & Flie lii. v Drums, fiffes, flags, and wiflers.
1560–1 in Old City Acct. Bk. in Archæol. Jrnl. (1886) 43 Payde for iij staves ffor wefflers.
1605 F. Bacon Of Aduancem. Learning ii. sig. Nn2 They..were..scornefull toward particulars, which their manner was to vse..as..Sargeants and Wifflers..to make way..for their opinions. View more context for this quotation
a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry V (1623) v. 0. 12 The deep-mouth'd Sea, Which like a mightie Whiffler 'fore the King, Seemes to prepare his way. View more context for this quotation
1618 Bp. J. Hall Righteovs Mammon 60 Some vaine whiffler, that is proud of a borrowed chaine?
1641 J. Milton Animadversions 30 His former transition was in the faire about the Jugglers, now he is at the Pageants among the Whifflers.
a1658 J. Cleveland Clievelandi Vindiciæ (1677) 112 First as a Whifler before the show enter Stamford, one that trod the Stage with the first, travers'd his ground, made a Leg and Exit.
1706 E. Ward Hudibras Redivivus II. vi. 23 The Colours that their Whifflers wear, And diff'rent Ensigns that they bear.
1712 J. Addison Spectator No. 536. ¶5 Our fine young Ladies..retain in their Service..as great a Number as they can of supernumerary..Fellows, which they use like Whiflers.
1787 F. Grose Provinc. Gloss. Whifflers, men who make way for the corporation of Norwich, by flourishing their swords.
b. transferred. A swaggerer, braggadocio.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pride > boasting or boastfulness > blustering or bravado > [noun] > person
jettera1400
flirdom?a1500
facerc1500
termagant1508
rutterkina1529
bellomy1535
bystour1535
roister1549
swash1549
rush-buckler1551
roisterkin1553
swashbuckler1560
dash-buckler1567
swinge-buckler?1577
whiffler1581
huff-snuff1582
swish-swash1582
fixnet1583
swag1588
swasher?1589
kill-cow1590
roister-doister1592
dagger1597
flaunting Fabian1598
tisty-tosty1598
huff-cap1600
swaggerer1600
burgullian1601
huff-muff1602
tear-cat1606
blusterer1609
wag-feather1611
wind-cutter1611
bilbo-lorda1625
tearer1633
cacafuegoa1640
bravado1643
Hector1655
scaramouch1662
swashado1663
huffer1664
bluster-mastera1670
Drawcansir1672
bully huff1673
huff1674
belswagger1680
valienton1681
blunderbuss1685
Draw can bully1698
bouncer1764
Bobadil1771
bounce1819
pistol1828
sacripant1829
hufty1847
bucko1883
1581 J. Bell tr. W. Haddon & J. Foxe Against Jerome Osorius 113 Yet another place of S. Paule out of the whiche this wylde wiffler may rushe upon us with his leaden dagger.
1607 T. Dekker & J. Webster North-ward Hoe ii. sig. C Your right whiffler..hangs himselfe in Saint Martins, and not in Cheape-side.
1644 D. Featley Sacra Nemesis To Rdr. They fight..rather like whifflers with vizards on their faces.
1881 J. H. Shorthouse John Inglesant (trade ed.) ix A motley company of mummers, masquers, fantastic phantoms, whifflers, thieves, rufflers.
1889 ‘Q’ Splendid Spur xiii The crew of gipsies, whifflers, mountebanks, fortune-tellers.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1923; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
whifflern.2
/ˈwɪfl̩ə/, /ˈwɪflə/, U.S. /ˈ(h)wɪf(ə)lər/ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > use of drugs and poison > tobacco > smoking > [noun] > smoker
tobacchian1597
tobacco-taker1599
tobacconist1600
puffer1615
tobacco-fellow1616
tobacconer1616
smoker1617
whiffler1617
fume-gallant1621
whiffera1627
funker1691
tobacco-smoker1848
tobacconalian1854
nicotian1872
tobaccophil1882
coffin dodger1891
tobaccoite1898
tobacco-whiffer-
1617 T. Middleton & W. Rowley Faire Quarrell iv. sig. G3v How lik'st thou this Whifler?
1836 H. Smith Tin Trumpet 117 So may we allow Vesuvius and Etna to smoke, without conceding that privilege to every puny whiffler.
2. A trifler; an insignificant or contemptible fellow (cf. whiffling adj.1 3); also, a shifty or evasive person.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > inferiority or baseness > baseness > base person > [noun]
houndOE
hinderlingc1175
whelpc1330
vilec1400
beasta1425
dog bolt1465
shake-rag1571
vassal1589
brock1607
shag-rag1611
shack-rag1612
slubberdegullion1612
baseling1618
shag1620
shab1637
slabberdegullion1653
whiffler1659
hang-dog1693
reptile1697
Nobodaddyc1793
skunk1816
spalpeen1817
tiger1827
soap-lock1840
shake1846
white mouse1846
sweep1853
shuck1862
whiffmagig1871
scrubber1876
ullage1901
jelly bean1905
heel1914
dirty dog1928
crud1932
crut1937
klunk1942
crudball1968
scumbag1971
bawbag1999
the mind > attention and judgement > importance > unimportance > [noun] > one who is unimportant > paltry, mean, or contemptible
turdc1400
shrub1566
skybala1572
peltera1577
whipstart1581
smatchetc1582
squib1586
paltripolitan1588
scrub1589
Jack-a-Lent1596
snotty-nose1604
whipstera1616
whimling1616
whiffler1659
insignificancy1661
insect1684
insignificant1710
pic1839
squirt1844
whiffmagig1871
sniff1890
picayune1903
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > condition of being held in contempt > [noun] > state or quality of being contemptible > contemptible person
wormc825
wretchOE
thingOE
hinderlingc1175
harlot?c1225
mixa1300
villain1303
whelpc1330
wonnera1340
bismera1400
vilec1400
beasta1425
creaturec1450
dog bolt1465
fouling?a1475
drivel1478
shit1508
marmoset1523
mammeta1529
pilgarlica1529
pode1528
slave1537
slim1548
skit-brains?1553
grasshopper1556
scavenger1563
old boss1566
rag1566
shrub1566
ketterela1572
shake-rag1571
skybala1572
mumpsimus1573
smatchetc1582
squib1586
scabship1589
vassal1589
baboon1592
Gibraltar1593
polecat1593
mushroom1594
nodc1595
cittern-head1598
nit1598
stockfish1598
cum-twang1599
dish-wash1599
pettitoe1599
mustard-token1600
viliaco1600
cargo1602
stump1602
snotty-nose1604
sprat1605
wormling1605
brock1607
dogfly?1611
shag-rag1611
shack-rag1612
thrum1612
rabbita1616
fitchock1616
unworthy1616
baseling1618
shag1620
glow-worm1624
snip1633
the son of a worm1633
grousea1637
shab1637
wormship1648
muckworm1649
whiffler1659
prig1679
rotten egg1686
prigster1688
begged fool1693
hang-dog1693
bugger1694
reptile1697
squinny1716
snool1718
ramscallion1734
footer1748
jackass1756
hallion1789
skite1790
rattlesnake1791
snot1809
mudworm1814
skunk1816
stirrah1816
spalpeen1817
nyaff1825
skin1825
weed1825
tiger1827
beggar1834
despicability1837
squirt1844
prawn1845
shake1846
white mouse1846
scurf1851
sweep1853
cockroach1856
bummer1857
medlar1859
cunt1860
shuck1862
missing link1863
schweinhund1871
creepa1876
bum1882
trashbag1886
tinhorn1887
snot-rag1888
rodent1889
whelpling1889
pie eatera1891
mess1891
schmuck1892
fucker1893
cheapskate1894
cocksucker1894
gutter-bird1896
perisher1896
skate1896
schmendrick1897
nyamps1900
ullage1901
fink1903
onion1904
punk1904
shitepoke1905
tinhorn sport1906
streeler1907
zob1911
stink1916
motherfucker1918
Oscar1918
shitass1918
shit-face1923
tripe-hound1923
gimp1924
garbage can1925
twerp1925
jughead1926
mong1926
fuck?1927
arsehole1928
dirty dog1928
gazook1928
muzzler1928
roach1929
shite1929
mook1930
lug1931
slug1931
woodchuck1931
crud1932
dip1932
bohunkus1933
lint-head1933
Nimrod1933
warb1933
fuck-piga1935
owl-hoot1934
pissant1935
poot1935
shmegegge1937
motheree1938
motorcycle1938
squiff1939
pendejo1940
snotnose1941
jerkface1942
slag1943
yuck1943
fuckface?1945
fuckhead?1945
shit-head1945
shite-hawk1948
schlub1950
asswipe1953
mother1955
weenie1956
hard-on1958
rass hole1959
schmucko1959
bitch ass1961
effer1961
lamer1961
arsewipe1962
asshole1962
butthole1962
cock1962
dipshit1963
motherfuck1964
dork1965
bumhole1967
mofo1967
tosspot1967
crudball1968
dipstick1968
douche1968
frickface1968
schlong1968
fuckwit1969
rassclaat1969
ass1970
wank1970
fecker1971
wanker1971
butt-fucker1972
slimeball1972
bloodclaat1973
fuckwad1974
mutha1974
suck1974
cocksuck1977
tosser1977
plank1981
sleazebag1981
spastic1981
dweeb1982
bumboclaat1983
dickwad1983
scuzzbag1983
sleazeball1983
butt-face1984
dickweed1984
saddie1985
butt plug1986
jerkweed1988
dick-sucker1989
microcephalic1989
wankstain1990
sadster1992
buttmunch1993
fanny1995
jackhole1996
fassyhole1997
fannybaws2000
fassy2002
society > morality > moral evil > evil nature or character > lack of magnanimity or noble-mindedness > [noun] > worthlessness > good-for-nothing person
brethelingc1275
filec1300
dogc1330
ribald1340
waynouna1350
waster1352
lorel1362
losel1362
land-leaper1377
triflera1382
brothelc1390
javelc1400
leftc1400
lorerc1400
shackerellc1420
brethel1440
never-thrift1440
vagrant1444
ne'er-thrifta1450
never-thrivinga1450
nebulona1475
breelc1485
naughty pack?1534
brathel1542
carrion1547
slim1548
unsel155.
pelf1551
shifterc1562
rag1566
wandrel?1567
land-loper1570
nothing-worth1580
baggage1594
roly-poly1602
bash-rag1603
arrant1605
ragabash?1609
flabergullion1611
hilding1611
hard bargain1612
slubberdegullion1612
vauneant1621
knick-knacker1622
idle-pack1624
slabberdegullion1653
thimble-maker1654
whiffler1659
never-do-well1664
good-for-nought1671
ne'er-be-good1675
shack1682
vagabond1686
shabaroon1699
shag-bag1699
houndsfoot1710
ne'er-do-well1737
trumpery1738
rap1742
hallion1789
scamp1808
waffie1808
ne'er-do-good1814
vaurien1829
sculpin1834
shicer1846
good-for-nothing1847
wastrel1847
scallywag1848
shack-bag1855
beat1865
toe-rag1875
rodney1877
toe-ragger1896
low-lifer1902
punk1904
lowlife1909
ringtail1916
git1939
no-hoper1944
schlub1950
piss artist1962
dead leg1964
1659 Lady Alimony v. iv. sig. Ki Such Whifflers are below my scorn, and beneath my spite.
1675 J. Covel Diary in J. T. Bent Early Voy. Levant (1893) 279 Here are every year abundance of Whiflers in those scraps of learning.
1678 H. More Let. 25 May 45 in J. Glanvill Saducismus Triumphatus (1681) O the impudent profaneness..of perverse shufflers and whifflers.
a1745 J. Swift Public Absurd. Eng. in Wks. (1765) VIII. i. 117 It is a common topic of satire, which you will hear..from the mouths..of every whiffler in office.
1812 M. Edgeworth Absentee iv, in Tales Fashionable Life V. 323 He was not a whiffler, to stand upon ceremony about disturbing a gentleman in his last moments.
1866 J. Martineau Ess. Philos. & Theol. 1st Ser. 187 These metaphysical whifflers draw no blood.
1896 Advance (Chicago) 25 June 935/2 [Giving the Gospel message] requires single-mindedness; no whiffler can succeed.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > indication > insignia > standard > [noun] > flag
fanea1000
pennon1404
thane1496
flag1530
rag1698
whiffler1760
flourisher1834
pennant1863
1760 in J. F. Durand Genuine Mem. Capt. Thurot 31 The commodore and second vessel carried white whifflers or pendants forward.
4. The whistlewing or golden-eye duck, Clangula glaucion. U.S. regional.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > birds > freshwater birds > order Anseriformes (geese, etc.) > subfamily Merginae (duck) > [noun] > genus Bucephala > bucephala clangula (golden-eye)
cur1621
goldeneye1622
shelden1674
whistling duck1699
four-eyes1755
garrot1829
jingler1829
great-head1843
musselcracker1845
whistle-wing1872
ironhead1888
whiffler1888
1888 G. Trumbull Names & Portraits Birds 79.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1923; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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