diddle

¹

[ did-l ]

verb (used with object)

, did·dled, did·dling.

1. Informal. to cheat; swindle; hoax.

diddle

²

[ did-l ]

verb (used without object)

, did·dled, did·dling.

1. Informal. to toy; fool (usually followed by with ):

   The kids have been diddling with the controls on the television set again.

2. to waste time; dawdle (often followed by around ):

   You would be finished by now if you hadn't spent the morning diddling around.

3. Informal. to move back and forth with short rapid motions.

verb (used with object)

, did·dled, did·dling.

1. Informal. to move back and forth with short rapid motions; jiggle:

   Diddle the switch and see if the light comes on.

2. Slang.
   1. to copulate with.
   2. to practice masturbation upon.

diddle

¹

/ ˈdɪdəl /

verb

1. dialect.
   to jerk (an object) up and down or back and forth; shake rapidly

diddle

²

/ ˈdɪdəl /

verb

1. tr to cheat or swindle
2. intr an obsolete word for dawdle

Derived Forms

• ˈdiddler, noun

Other Words From

• diddler noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of diddle¹

First recorded in 1800–10; perhaps special use of diddle ²

Origin of diddle²

First recorded in 1800–10; of uncertain origin; perhaps from dialect diddle “to cheat, hoax” or from dialect doodle (in archaic sense) “fool”; diddle ¹( def ), doodle ¹ (in senses “to waste time; to deceive”)

Word History and Origins

Origin of diddle¹

C17: probably variant of doderen to tremble, totter; see dodder ¹

Origin of diddle²

C19: back formation from Jeremy Diddler, a scrounger in J. Kenney's farce Raising the Wind (1803)

Example Sentences

You say,“It’s a dorky controversy. It’s not even a good one. I didn’t f— a pοrn star. I didn’t diddle a boy. I got caught embellishing for dramatic effect. Same crime your aunt is guilty of over Thanksgiving.”

From Los Angeles Times

Trump will stall the case, diddle the docket, drag out the appeal, appeal from the appeals court, and, if he becomes cornered resort to another trick he has considerable experience with—he will declare bankruptcy.

From Salon

Trump will stall the case, diddle the docket, drag out the appeal, appeal from the appeals court, and, if he becomes cornered resort to another trick he has considerable experience with—he will declare bankruptcy.

From Salon

Trump will stall the case, diddle the docket, drag out the appeal, appeal from the appeals court, and, if he becomes cornered resort to another trick he has considerable experience with—he will declare bankruptcy.

From Salon

Laszlo loves Nadja while appreciating a side diddle here and there, mainly by the Baron who sired them although sometimes he's lent a helping hand to Nandor.

From Salon