Chiefly north. Also 5–7 waffe, 9 Sc. whaff. [var. of WAIVE v.2 or of WAVE v., with onomatopœic modification. Cf. WAFT v.2]
† 1. trans. To put away with a wave of the hand. Obs.
c. 1440. York Myst., xxxi. 248. ii. Dux.… Youre fauchone hym flaies…. Rex. Nowe lely I leue þe, And therfore schall y waffe it away.
† 2. intr. To blow (as the wind). Obs.
c. 1440. York Myst., xii. 54. Þir wise wordis ware noght wroght in waste, To waffe and wende away als wynde.
3. trans. Of the wind: To cause (something) to move to and fro.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, I. vi. 26 (1553), 16 b. Venus … With wind waffing [v.r. waving] hir haris lowsit of trace. Ibid., VI. viii. 113. Quhidder waffit vilsum by storm of the se, Or at command of goddis, come thow, quod he?
b. intr. To wave to and fro; to flutter in the wind; also trans. of a bird, to move (the wings) in flight.
1834. J. Wilson, Noct. Ambr., Wks. 1856, IV. 97. Rover begins snokin and twinin himsel in a serpentine style,… wi’ his fanlike tail whaffin.
1856. J. Ballantine, Poems, 59. The rags waffin’ round her wad wauken ruth In a mair stieve-breasted chield than me.
1861. R. Quinn, Heather Lintie (1863), 72. Aff they set on tiptae flicht, Waffin’ their wee bit wings wi’ micht.
4. intr. To produce a current of air by waving something to and fro. Also trans., to direct a current of air against, to fan.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, III. 91/1. [Among goldsmiths and jewellers] Waffing is clearing the Stones from Dust with a Pencill.
a. 1878. H. Ainslie, Pilgr. Land of Burns (1892), 190. Waffing her wan face wi’ a claith.
1886. J. Barrowman, Sc. Mining Terms, 69. To Waff, or Waft, to fan out. Firedamp was formerly expelled from the working rooms by waffing.
