waggle

[ wag-uhl ]

verb (used without object)

, wag·gled, wag·gling.

1. to wobble or shake, especially while in motion:

   The ball waggled slowly to a stop. The leaves of the tree waggled in the wind.

verb (used with object)

, wag·gled, wag·gling.

1. to move up and down or from side to side in a short, rapid manner; wag:

   to waggle one's head.

2. Golf. to make a waggle with (a golf club).

noun

1. a waggling motion.
2. Golf. a swinging movement made with a golf club to and fro over the ball prior to a stroke.

waggle

/ ˈwæɡəl /

verb

1. to move or cause to move with a rapid shaking or wobbling motion

noun

1. a rapid shaking or wobbling motion

Derived Forms

• ˈwaggly, adjective
• ˈwagglingly, adverb

Other Words From

• waggling·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of waggle¹

First recorded in 1585–95; wag + -le

Word History and Origins

Origin of waggle¹

C16: frequentative of wag ¹

Example Sentences

But he says the new research reveals more about the structure of a species’ communication system, much as scientists deciphered how the waggles of honey bees tell other bees where flowers are located.

From Science Magazine

“Poor Lady Augusta Drear, Lady-in-Waiting to the Princess, has not had a happy crossing,” she said, waggling her old head.

From Literature

Want to lunge my head forward and bite Gillicut’s ankle as hard as I can, waggling my head around to make it hurt more, the way Inkling told me.

From Literature

It has been known for decades that honeybees do so-called waggle dances, in which their movements and orientation on the honeycomb signal the direction and distance to food outside the hive.

From Science Daily

As college football offenses moved away from huddling during the 2010s, “waggling” in the plays, as Berry calls it, became the norm.

From Seattle Times