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

“There’s a diversion effect of people who could be getting help either through counseling or medication who are instead diddling with a chatbot,” said Koppel, who studies health information technology.

From Seattle 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

That sentence should have read: “As the Trump administration diddled with nostrums and quack cures, the new surgeon general kept forfeiting his integrity.”

From Washington Post

Jubilation ensued, especially among Netflix viewers, who proved over the weekend following the second season premiere that cutting back on the diddling did not adversely impact on the show's popularity.

From Salon

Kecmanovic, though, wins four points in a row ... only to be diddled by an incredible lob; deuce it is, then again when Monfils nails a blazing forehand.

From The Guardian