Whiffs

Part of speech: verb, noun

Definitions

1. A soft, gentle gust of air that may carry a fleeting scent
2. quick, light inhalations that allow for brief exposure to an aroma
3. faint, ephemeral impressions of various odors that may evoke memories or sensations

Etymology: A whiff is a breath of air, and its history begins with motion rather than smell. Middle English "wef" and related forms had meanings such as a blow or stroke, and a whiff could be a brief, gentle breeze or a light gust. Only later did the word narrow to scents, so that a whiff of smoke or perfume is simply a puff of air carrying a odor to the nose. The origins are murky. Its roots may lie in Old English "wafian," meaning "to wave," which connects to a Proto-Indo-European root for braiding and weaving, but the exact path is uncertain. Some of the word's sound may also be onomatopoeic, imitating the soft rush of air. The flatfish sense is a curious side branch. Several flatfish, including the megrim and the lemon sole, have been called whiffs, probably because of the breeze-and-puff senses of the word. The verb "to whiff" arrived later, derived from the noun.

Synonyms: smells, scent