WHIFFLETREE, hwif'l-tr[=e], _n._ a swingletree.--Also WHIP'PLETREE. [From
whifle, to turn. Cf. _Whiff_.]
WHIG, hwig, _n._ the name, since 1830 almost superseded by 'Liberal,' of
one of the great English political parties: a Scotch Presbyterian, first so
called in the middle of the 17th century: (_U.S._) one of those who in the
colonial period were opposed to British rule: one of the survivors of the
old National Republican party, first so called in 1834--it died in
1852.--_adj._ composed of Whigs--also WHIG'GISH.--_n._ WHIG'GARCHY,
government by WHIGS.--_adv._ WHIG'GISHLY.--_ns._ WHIG'GISM, WHIG'GERY,
WHIG'GISHNESS, WHIG'SHIP, Whig principles. [Prob. short for _whiggamore_.]
WHIG, hwig, _v.i._ (_Scot._) to jog along.
WHIG, hwig, _n._ (_prov._) sour whey, buttermilk.
WHIGGAMORE, hwig'a-m[=o]r, _n._ originally a person who came from the west
and south-west of Scotland to Leith to buy corn: one of the 7000 Western
Covenanters who marched on Edinburgh in 1648, sealing the doom of Charles
I.: a Scotch Presbyterian, a WHIG. [Traced by some to _whiggam_, a sound
used by the peasantry of the western Lowlands in driving their horses;
others derive from _whig_, sour whey. Not derivable from _whig_ (1) and
Gael. _mor_, great.]
WHIGMALEERIE, hwig-ma-l[=e]'ri, _n._ (_Scot._) a trinket, knick-knack: a
whim. [Orig. uncertain.]
WHILE, hw[=i]l, _n._ a space of time: trouble spent.--_adv._ during the
time that: at the same time that, as long as.--_v.t._ to cause to pass
without irksomeness (with _away_).--_conjs._ WHILE, WHILST, as long as: at
the same time that: (_Shak._) until; WHILES (_B._), while, at the same time
that.--_adv._ (_Scot._) at times (orig. gen. of A.S. _hwíl_).--_advs._
WH[=I]'LOM, WH[=I]'LOME (_Milt._), formerly, once (orig. dat. pl. of A.S.
_hwíl_, time).--EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, now and then; THE WHILE (_Shak._),
in the meantime; THE WHILST (_Shak._), while: in the meantime; WORTH WHILE,
worth the trouble and time taken. [A.S. _hwíl_; Goth. _hweila_, Ger.
_weile_.]
WHILK, hwilk, _pron._ an obsolete form of _which_.
WHILLY, hwil'i, _v.t._ (_Scot._) to cajole.--_v.i._ WHILL'Y-WHAW, to make
wheedling speeches.--_n._ cajolery.--_adv._ smooth-tongued, wheedling.
[Prob. a mixture of _wile_ and _wheedle_.]
WHIM, hwim, _n._ a caprice: a fancy: a machine for raising ore, a
mine.--_v.i._ to turn round, to be seized with a whim.--_v.t._ to cause to
turn.--_adjs._ WHIM'MY, WHIM'SICAL, full of whims, odd, fantastical.--_ns._
WHIMSICAL'ITY, WHIM'SICALNESS.--_adv._ WHIM'SICALLY.--_ns._ WHIM'SY,
WHIM'SEY, a whim, freak.--_adj._ full of whims, changeable.--_n._
WHIM'-WHAM, a ridiculous notion or thing, a freak, an odd device. [Ice.
_hvima_, to have the eyes wandering.]
WHIMBREL, hwim'brel, _n._ a bird of the family _Scolopacidæ_, allied to the
curlew and like it in form, plumage, and habits, but smaller, and having a
shorter bill.--Also WIM'BREL. [Prob. imit.]
WHIMPER, hwim'p[.e]r, _v.i._ to cry with a low, whining voice.--_n._ a
peevish cry.--_ns._ WHIM'PERER, one who whimpers; WHIM'PERING, peevish
crying.--_adv._ WHIM'PERINGLY.--BE ON THE WHIMPER, to be peevish and ready
to cry. [Scot. _whimmer_; Ger. _wimmern_; perh. from the root of _whine_.]
WHIMPLE, hwim'pl (_Spens._). Same as WIMPLE.
WHIN, hwin, _n._ gorse, furze.--_n._ WHIN'-CHAT, a bird very similar in
appearance, esp. when it assumes its duller autumn plumage, to the
Stone-chat, a summer visitant of Britain.--_adj._ WHIN'NY, abounding in
whins. [W. _chwyn_, weeds.]
WHIN, hwin, _n._ See WHINSTONE.
WHINE, hw[=i]n, _v.i._ to utter a plaintive, shrill cry: to complain in an
unmanly way.--_n._ a plaintive cry: an affected nasal tone of
complaint.--_ns._ WH[=I]'NER; WH[=I]'NING.--_adv._ WH[=I]'NINGLY. [A.S.
_hwínan_, to whine; Ice. _hvína_.]