Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1976 (SND Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1924-1935
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WIFFER-WAFFER, n. A nonentity, a useless, ineffectual person (Kcd. 1974). Hence adj. wifferty-wafferty, ineffectual, doddering (Ags. 1944 Scots Mag. (May) 88; Kcd., Ags. 1974). Also in form wiffie-waffler, id.Abd. 1924 Sc. Tongue (Will) 147:
The coachman described the "laird" as a "wiffer waffer o' a cratur."Abd. 1935 J. White Sea Road i.:
Poor wee smatchet, to hae a wiffie-waffler like our Leebie for a mother!
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"Wiffer-waffer n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 15 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/wifferwaffer>
