Obs. exc. dial. (also whirlipuff). [f. WHIRL- + PUFF sb. after WHIRLWIND.] A puff or gust of wind such as raises dust in a whirl or eddy; also † a whirlwind. Also fig.
1382. Wyclif, Wisd. v. 24. As a whirle puff of wind.
1601. Holland, Pliny, II. xlviii. I. 24. A whirlepuffe or ghust called Typhon. Ibid. (1609), Amm. Marcell., 41. Whiles some … pestiferous whirle-puffe raiseth up still these miseries of common mischiefes in the State.
1637. Whiting, Albino & Bellama, 116. A shuffling whirle-puffe roar’d amongst the trees.
1640. G. Abbott, Job Paraphr., 183. As the whirlepulft [sic] lifts up the dust.
1854. Miss Baker, Northampt. Gloss., Whirlipuff, a sudden gust of wind driving the dust into an eddy.
1899. Dickinson & Prevost, Cumbld. Gloss., Whirl-puff, a small whirl-wind such as will form dust spirals on a dusty road in summer.
