footle

American  

[foot-l] / ˈfʊt l /

verb (used without object)

footled, footling

1. to act or talk in a foolish or silly way.

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noun

1. nonsense; foolishness; twaddle.

footle British  

/ ˈfuːtəl /

verb

1. to loiter aimlessly; potter

2. to talk nonsense

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noun

1. rare foolishness

Etymology

Origin of footle

First recorded in 1890–95; origin uncertain; footy

Example Sentences

Think of the people to whom your bottles of footle go!

From Tono Bungay by Wells, H. G. (Herbert George)

Albeit to young Mr Benny pure literature made no appeal, and had even been summarised by him as "footle," in the business of advertising he developed a curious literary twist.

From Hocken and Hunken by Quiller-Couch, Arthur Thomas, Sir

"I suppose you'll just footle, then," his friend had summed it up, and left him, because it was half-past six, and they had dinner at that strange hour.

From The Lee Shore by Macaulay, Rose, Dame

Looking at me through the footle, distorted little microscope of their own silly scrubby little souls!

From Ptomaine Street by Wells, Carolyn

SETTEE, do try not to footle like this!

From Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 100, January 3, 1891 by Various