Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
horned whiff noun See under whiff2. Liberaldictionary.com
whiff 2 [hwif, wif] noun any of several flatfishes having both eyes on the left side of the head, of the genus Citharichthys, as C. cornutus (horned whiff), inhabiting Atlantic waters from New England to Brazil. Compare left-eyed flounder. Origin of whiff 2First recorded in 1705–15; origin uncertain Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019 British Dictionary definitions for horned whiff whiff 1 noun a passing odour a brief gentle gust of air a single inhalation or exhalation from the mouth or nose verb to come, convey, or go in whiffs; puff or waft to take in or breathe out (tobacco smoke, air, etc) (tr) to sniff or smell (intr) British slang to have an unpleasant smell; stink Derived Formswhiffer, nounWord Origin for whiff C16: of imitative origin whiff 2 noun mainly British a narrow clinker-built skiff having outriggers, for one oarsman Word Origin for whiff C19: special use of whiff 1 Collins English Dictionary – Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 Word Origin and History for horned whiff whiff n.
13c., weffe “foul scent or odor,” of imitative origin. Modern form became popular late 16c. with tobacco smoking, probably influenced by whiffle “blow in gusts or puffs” (1560s). The verb in the baseball slang sense “to swing at a ball and miss” first recorded 1913.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
