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Ireland and Scotland; whisky. The Scottish returns being vested in grouse, white hares, pickled salmon, and usquebaugh. Sir W. Scott.

Liable to vary; too susceptible of change; mutable; fickle; unsteady; inconstant; as, the affections of men are variable; passions are variable. Lest that thy love prove likewise variable. Shak. His heart, I know, how variable and vain! Milton. Variable exhaust (Steam Eng.), a blast pipe with an adjustable opening. --…

Changeable; changing; fickle. [Obs.] He is variant, he abit [abides] nowhere. Chaucer.

flies, esp. Drosophila ampelopophila, which breed in imperfectly sealed preserves and in pickles.

Fig.: Light-hearted; easily affected by circumstances; airy; lively; hence, changeable; fickle; as, a volatile temper. You are as giddy and volatile as ever. Swift. Volatile alkali. (Old Chem.) See under Alkali. -- Volatile liniment, a liniment composed of sweet oil and ammonia, so called from the readiness with which…

Quality or state of being volatile; disposition to evaporate; changeableness; fickleness.

Changeable; unstable; fickle. [Obs.]

A thorn, prickle, or sting with which many plants are furnished. Concealed weapons. See under Concealed. -- Weapon salve, a salve which was supposed to cure a wound by being applied to the weapon that made it. [Obs.] Boyle.

that turns easily and frequently; one who veers with every change of current opinion; a fickle, inconstant person.

To change from one opinion or course to another; to use evasions; to prevaricate; to be fickle. A person of whiffing and unsteady turn of mind can not keep close to a point of controversy. I. Watts.