WHETHER OR NO, TOM COLLINS. A phrase equivalent to, "Whether you will or not, such is my determination, not to be gainsaid."
WHICH WAY DOES THE WIND LIE? What is the matter?
WHIFF. The Rhombus cardina, a passable fish of the pleuronect genus. Also, a slight fitful breeze or transient puff of wind.
WHIFFING. Catching mackerel with a hook and line from a boat going pretty fast through the water.
WHIFFLERS. The old term for fifers, preceding the body of archers who cleared the way, but more recently applied to very trifling fellows. Smollett named Captain Whiffle in contempt.
WHIMBREL. The smaller species of curlew, Numenius phæopus.
WHIMSEY. A small crane for hoisting goods to the upper stories of warehouses.
WHINYARD. A sort of hanger, serving both as a weapon and a knife. An archaism for a cutlass. See the Gentleman in the Cobler of Canterburie, 1590:—
"His cloake grew large and sid,
And a faire winniard by his side."
WHIP. A single rope rove through a single block to hoist in light articles. Where greater and steadier power is demanded, a block is added, and the standing part is made fast near the upper block. Thus it becomes a double whip.—To whip. To hoist by a whip. Also, to tie twine, whipping fashion, round the end of a rope to prevent its untwisting.