whiffing

[WHIFF.] A mode of fishing for ba , mackerel, pollack, . (See extract.) " Whiffing , the proce of slowly towing the bait (sculling or pulling in the known haunts of the fish)."- Field , Dec. 26, 1885. whif-fle, v. i. & t. [A frequent. from whiff, verb (q. v.).) A. Intransitive : 1. To veer about as the wind does. "If the winds whiffle about to the south."-Dampier: Disc. of Winds , ch. vi. *2. To change from one opinion or course to another; to use evasions; to prevaricate; to be fickle and unsteady. "For, just as int'rest whiffled on his mind, He Anatolians left, or Thracians join'd." Harte: Eulogius . *3. To drink, to quaff. chin, bench; go, gem; thin, this; *B. Transitive: whig 1. To disperse with a whiff or puff; to blow away; to scatter, to di ipate. " Whiffle away these truths."-More. 2. To shake or wave quickly. whif-fle, subst. [A dim in. from whiff, s. (q. v.)] A fife or small flute.