Ancient name for fifers; also persons at the universities who examine candidates for degrees. A whiffling cur, a small yelping cur.
Definition taken from The 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, originally by Francis Grose.
Whiffles * WhimperNathan Bailey's 1736 Dictionary of canting and thieving slang
John S. Farmer's collection of canting songs and slang rhymes