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Gust vs Whiffle - What's the difference?

gust | whiffle |

As nouns the difference between gust and whiffle

is that gust is pleasure while whiffle is a short blow or gust.

As a verb whiffle is

to blow a short gust.

gust

English

Etymology 1

Apparently from (etyl) gustr , though not recorded before Shakespeare.

Noun

(en noun)
  • A strong, abrupt rush of wind.
  • Any rush or outburst (of water, emotion etc.).
  • (Francis Bacon)
    Synonyms
    * windflaw

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To blow in gusts.
  • Etymology 2

    From (etyl) gustus ‘taste’. For the verb, compare (etyl) (lena) gustare, (etyl) gustare, (etyl) gustar.

    Noun

    (-)
  • (archaic) The physiological faculty of taste.
  • Relish, enjoyment, appreciation.
  • * Jeremy Taylor
  • An ox will relish the tender flesh of kids with as much gust and appetite.
  • * Alexander Pope
  • Destroy all creatures for thy sport or gust.
  • * 1942': ‘Yes, indeed,’ said Sava with solemn '''gust . — Rebecca West, ''Black Lamb and Grey Falcon (Canongate 2006, p. 1050)
  • Intellectual taste; fancy.
  • * Dryden
  • A choice of it may be made according to the gust and manner of the ancients.

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (obsolete) To taste.
  • (obsolete) To have a relish for.
  • Anagrams

    * * ----

    whiffle

    English

    (whiffling)

    Alternative forms

    * wiffle

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A short blow or gust
  • (obsolete) Something small or insignificant; a trifle.
  • (obsolete) A fife or small flute.
  • (Douce)

    Verb

    (whiffl)
  • to blow a short gust
  • to waffle, talk aimlessly
  • (British) to waste time
  • to travel quickly, whizz, whistle, with an accompanying wind-like sound
  • (ornithology, of a bird) to descending rapidly from a height once the decision to land has been made, involving fast side-slipping first one way and then the other
  • To waver, or shake, as if moved by gusts of wind; to shift, turn, or veer about.
  • (Dampier)
  • To wave or shake quickly; to cause to whiffle.
  • To change from one opinion or course to another; to use evasions; to prevaricate; to be fickle.
  • * I. Watts
  • A person of whiffling and unsteady turn of mind cannot keep close to a point of controversy.
  • To disperse with, or as with, a whiff, or puff; to scatter.
  • Derived terms

    * wiffleball

    References