whiff (hwif)

[Origin obscure.] An ana can thine or malacopterygious fish of the family Pleuronectidæ, a kind of flatfish or flounder, the Cynicoglo us microcephal us, found in British waters; the smear-dab, sail-fluke, or mary whiff3 (hwif), v. i. [An error for whip, v. 1., 2.] To fish, as for mackerel, with a hand-line. See whiffing, n. sole. IMG:content-2299.png:[blocks in formation] Great tobacco- whiffers ; They would go near to rob with a pipe in their mouths. Beau, and Fl., Wit at Several Weapons, iv. 1.