HOME
SIGN UP LOGIN
https://1828.mshaffer.com
Thursday - July 23, 2026
 ↓

In my view, the Christian religion is the most important and one of the first things in which all children, under a free government ought to be instructed... No truth is more evident to my mind than that the Christian religion must be the basis of any government intended to secure the rights and privileges of a free people.
- Preface

1828 Noah Webster Dictionary
  A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z   <3

Search, browse, and study this dictionary to learn more about the early American, Christian language.

1828.mshaffer.com › Word [whiffler]

0
0
 Cite this! Share Definition on Facebook Share Definition on Twitter Simple Definition Word-definition Evolution

whiffler

WHIFFLER, n.

1. One who whiffles or frequently changes his opinion or course; one who uses sifts and evasions in argument.

2. A harbinger; perhaps one who blows the horn or trumpet.

3. A young man who goes before a company in London on occasions of public solemnity.


Evolution (or devolution) of this word [whiffler]

1828 Webster1844 Webster1913 Webster

WHIFFLER, n.

1. One who whiffles or frequently changes his opinion or course; one who uses sifts and evasions in argument.

2. A harbinger; perhaps one who blows the horn or trumpet.

3. A young man who goes before a company in London on occasions of public solemnity.

WHIF'FLER, n.

  1. One who whiffles or frequently changes his opinion or course; one who uses shifts and evasions in argument.
  2. A harbinger; perhaps one who blows the horn or trumpet. – Shak.
  3. A young man who goes before a company in London on occasions of public solemnity. – Cyc.

Whif"fler
  1. One who whiffles, or frequently changes his opinion or course; one who uses shifts and evasions in argument; hence, a trifler.

    Every whiffler in a laced coat who frequents the chocolate house shall talk of the constitution. Swift.

  2. One who plays on a whiffle; a fifer or piper.

    [Obs.]
  3. An officer who went before procession to clear the way by blowing a horn, or otherwise; hence, any person who marched at the head of a procession; a harbinger.

    Which like a mighty whiffler 'fore the king,
    Seems to prepare his way.     Shak.

    * "Whifflers, or fifers, generally went first in a procession, from which circumstance the name was transferred to other persons who succeeded to that office, and at length was given to those who went forward merely to clear the way for the procession. . . . In the city of London, young freemen, who march at the head of their proper companies on the Lord Mayor's day, sometimes with flags, were called whifflers, or bachelor whifflers, not because they cleared the way, but because they went first, as whifflers did." Nares.

  4. The golden-eye.

    [Local, U. S.]
1828 Webster1844 Webster1913 Webster

Thank you for visiting!

  • Our goal is to try and improve the quality of the digital form of this dictionary being historically true and accurate to the first American dictionary. Read more ...
  • Below you will find three sketches from a talented artist and friend depicting Noah Webster at work. Please tell us what you think.
Divine Study
  • Divine StudyDivine Study
    Divine Study
 Window of Reflection
  • Window of ReflectionWindow of Reflection
    Window of Reflection
 Enlightening Grace
  • Enlightening GraceEnlightening Grace
    Enlightening Grace

164

949

125

1031

199

1068
Whiffler

WHIFFLER, noun

1. One who whiffles or frequently changes his opinion or course; one who uses sifts and evasions in argument.

2. A harbinger; perhaps one who blows the horn or trumpet.

3. A young man who goes before a company in London on occasions of public solemnity.

Why 1828?

Word of the Day

importance

IMPORT'ANCE, n.

1. Weight; consequence; a bearing on some interest; that quality of any thing by which it may affect a measure, interest or result. The education of youth is of great importance to a free government. A religious education is of infinite importance to every human being.

2. Weight or consequence in the scale of being.

Thy own importance know.

Nor bound thy narrow views to things below.

3. Weight or consequence in self-estimation.

He believes himself a man of importance.

4. Thing implied; matter; subject; importunity. [In these senses, obsolete.]

Random Word

handle

HAND'LE, v.t. [L. manus.]

1. To touch; to feel with the hand; to use or hold with the hand.

The bodies we daily handle--hinder the approach of the part of our hands that press them.

2. To manage; to use; to wield.

That fellow handles a bow like a crow-keeper.

3. To make familiar by frequent touching.

The breeders in Flanders--handle their colts six months every year.

4. To treat; to discourse on; to discuss; to use or manage in writing or speaking. The author handled the subject with address. The speaker handled the arguments to the best advantage.

5. To use; to deal with; to practice.

They that handle the law knew me not. Jer.2.

6. To treat; to use well or ill.

How wert thou handled?

7. To manage; to practice on; to transact with.

You shall see how I will handle her.

HAND'LE, n. [L. ansa.]

1. That part of a vessel or instrument which is held in the hand when used, as the haft of a sword,the bail of a kettle, &c.

2. That of which use is made; the instrument of effecting a purpose.

Noah's 1828 Dictionary

First dictionary of the American Language!

Noah Webster, the Father of American Christian education, wrote the first American dictionary and established a system of rules to govern spelling, grammar, and reading. This master linguist understood the power of words, their definitions, and the need for precise word usage in communication to maintain independence. Webster used the Bible as the foundation for his definitions.

This standard reference tool will greatly assist students of all ages in their studies.

No other dictionary compares with the Webster's 1828 dictionary. The English language has changed again and again and in many instances has become corrupt. The American Dictionary of the English Language is based upon God's written word, for Noah Webster used the Bible as the foundation for his definitions. This standard reference tool will greatly assist students of all ages in their studies. From American History to literature, from science to the Word of God, this dictionary is a necessity. For homeschoolers as well as avid Bible students it is easy, fast, and sophisticated.


Regards,


monte

{x:

Project:: 1828 Reprint
Hard-cover Edition

381

561
Compact Edition

365

255
CD-ROM

321

200

* As a note, I have purchased each of these products. In fact, as we have been developing the Project:: 1828 Reprint, I have purchased several of the bulky hard-cover dictionaries. My opinion is that the 2000-page hard-cover edition is the only good viable solution at this time. The compact edition was a bit disappointing and the CD-ROM as well.


[ + ]
Add Search To Your Site


Our goal is to convert the facsimile dictionary (PDF available: v1 and v2) to reprint it and make it digitally available in several formats.

Overview of Project

  1. Image dissection
  2. Text Emulation
  3. Dictionary Formatting
  4. Digital Applications
  5. Reprint

Please visit our friends:

{ourFriends}

Learn more about U.S. patents:

{ourPatent}

Privacy Policy

We want to provide the best 1828 dictionary service to you. As such, we collect data, allow you to login, and we want your feedback on other features you would like.

For details of our terms of use, please read our privacy policy here.
Feedback is Welcome!
Page loaded in 5.808 seconds. [1828: 22, T:0]


1828 Noah Webster Dictionary

^ return to top
Back to Top