wiggle

[ wig-uhl ]

verb (used without object)

, wig·gled, wig·gling.

1. to move or go with short, quick, irregular movements from side to side:

   The puppies wiggled with delight.

verb (used with object)

, wig·gled, wig·gling.

1. to cause to wiggle; move quickly and irregularly from side to side.

noun

1. a wiggling movement or course.
2. a wiggly line.
3. a dish of creamed fish or shellfish and peas.

wiggle

/ ˈwɪɡəl /

verb

1. to move or cause to move with jerky movements, esp from side to side

noun

1. the act or an instance of wiggling
2. get a wiggle on slang.
   to hurry up

Derived Forms

• ˈwiggler, noun
• ˈwiggly, adjective

Other Words From

• outwiggle verb (used with object) outwiggled outwiggling

Word History and Origins

Origin of wiggle¹

1175–1225; Middle English wiglen; akin to Old English wegan to move, wēg motion, wicga insect; compare Norwegian vigla to totter, frequentative of vigga to rock oneself, Dutch, Low German wiggelen

Word History and Origins

Origin of wiggle¹

C13: from Middle Low German, Middle Dutch wiggelen

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. get a wiggle on, Informal. to hurry up; get a move on:

   If you don't get a wiggle on, we'll miss the first act.

Example Sentences

She said she managed to "wiggle away" and the encounter was "horrific".

From BBC

This could mean a bit more wiggle room still – but is particularly difficult to measure.

From BBC

“You’re still not seeing it in sales, and their cash position doesn’t give them a lot of wiggle room,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times

Jared Isaacman emerged first, wiggling his limbs, hands and feet to test his suit.

From BBC

According to her campaign, the only real concern is that Trump would not show up after already trying to wiggle out of the debate.

From Salon