whispn.
rare.
A slight blast or puff (of wind) or sprinkle (of rain).
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > wind > [noun] > puff of
pufflOE
breathc1400
fuff1535
whiff1603
whift1614
tifta1765
cat's paw1769
skift1808
flaff1827
skiff1827
whiffle1842
whisp1884
quiff1912
the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > precipitation or atmospheric moisture > rain > [noun] > a or the fall of rain > shower > slight
spitting1707
smur1830
skit1847
spit1849
skiff1895
whisp1923
1884 19th Cent. Feb. 241 A whisp or two of cold wind.
1923 Times 27 Apr. 12/1 A whisp of rain,..too light to be called a shower, touched the crowd here and there.
Derivatives
whisp v.
ΚΠ
1901 [see whisping n.].
whisping n. used of a slight blast or a low rustling sound: see quots.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > repeated sound or succession of sounds > [noun] > rustling
whisping1379
rustlinga1387
flushinga1398
ruffling1440
stichling?1553
brustling1589
rustle1624
rash1671
titter1853
fidget1860
gush1866
reesle1866
frou-frou1870
silking1871
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > faintness or weakness > [noun] > faint or weak sound > whispering sound
whisping1379
whispering1610
whisper1638
susurration1640
susurring1826
susurrus1826
susurrence1909
whiffle1972
1379 MS Gloucester Cathedral 19 No. 1. i. iii. lf. 5 b The ers hole by egestion.i. schityng Crackynge & Whispynge by nethe is purgynge propirly of the guttys.
1901 Daily News 2 Feb. 5/7 Nothing broke the stillness but the whisping of the waters.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1924; most recently modified version published online March 2018).
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n.1379