whiff

Definitions


[wɪf], (Noun)

Definitions:
- a smell that is only smelt briefly or faintly
(e.g: I caught a whiff of eau de cologne)

- a puff or breath of air or smoke
(e.g: whiffs of smoke emerged from the boiler)

- (chiefly in baseball or golf) an unsuccessful attempt to hit the ball


Phrases:

Origin:
late 16th century (originally in the senses ‘gust of wind’ and ‘inhalation of tobacco smoke’, also, as a verb, ‘blow with a slight gust’): imitative


[wɪf], (Verb)

Definitions:
- get a brief or faint smell of
(e.g: he whiffed the broth that was simmering on the stove)

- (chiefly in baseball or golf) try unsuccessfully to hit the ball


Phrases:

Origin:
late 16th century (originally in the senses ‘gust of wind’ and ‘inhalation of tobacco smoke’, also, as a verb, ‘blow with a slight gust’): imitative


[wɪf], (Noun)

Definitions:


Phrases:

Origin:
early 18th century: perhaps from whiff




definition by Oxford Dictionaries