Waffle (speech)
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The term waffle, particularly outside of the U.S., denotes language without meaning; blathering, babbling, droning. One might waffle throughout an essay or a presentation, when not having enough material, or needing to fill in time. Etymologists say the term was derived from waff, a 17th-century onomatopoeia for the sound a barking dog makes, similar to the modern woof. Although the relationship between a dog's bark and indecisiveness is unclear, the inference is that waffle words have about as much meaning as the noise made by a dog barking.[citation needed]
Waffling can also be used as a derogatory term; to describe, for instance, a candidate or politician who is considered to easily switch sides on issues to curry political favor, as an easily-flipped breakfast food with the same name. A waffle was famously used to represent President Bill Clinton in the Doonesbury comic strip.[citation needed]
Waffling is also a term for sending prank e-mails from other people's e-mail addresses. This began in Toronto, at MuchMusic (a Canadian cable TV station) by Justin Stockman. A producer had forgotten to log off a communal computer and Justin sent an e-mail from this producer to on-air personality Rachel Perry (who worked at MuchMusic at the time), containing a breakfast invite to enjoy some "tasty waffles". People at MuchMusic began "waffling" each other regularly, taking advantage of anyone who left their computer unattended. As staff, including Rachel, moved on to other companies and other cities, they brought "waffling" with them and the prank spread. "Waffling" was referenced in a Globe & Mail article in 2002 as a workplace trend. Any email sent from someone else's account (purporting to be from that person) is known as a "Waffle", but the best "Waffles" always include some reference to waffles, pancakes or maple syrup.
The term "to waffle" denotes indecision about particular subjects; "waffling" can also mean changing one's mind frequently on a topic. Example: "Jimmy always waffles between wanting to go to school, or not. Jimmy, you must make up your mind".
