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

The wiggle room is this: Musk’s payments are framed not as reimbursement for voting, or registering to vote, but as a reward for signing a “petition” drafted by someone who was barely trying: “By signing below, I am pledging my support for the First and Second Amendments,” it states.

From Salon

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

As always, the Australian Grand Prix in 2006 was an eclectic buffet of fame and power - with everyone from actress Amanda Bynes to the Dutch Prime Minister, a 70s pop star, and the original Blue Wiggle treading pit lane.

From BBC