wiggle

[ wig-uhl ]

verb (used without object)

wiggled, wiggling.

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

   The puppies wiggled with delight.

verb (used with object)

wiggled, wiggling.

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 Word Forms

• 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

“If you look at a video of a real baby primate, they have the exact same wiggles and imperfections,” says the filmmaker.

From Los Angeles Times

The five brightly colored characters helped the crowd to get its “wiggles” out and sang the hit “Party in My Tummy.”

From Los Angeles Times

Maher was blunt, saying that there's very little wiggle room in the wording of the amendment.

From Salon

His comments wiggled a finger in a wound which has been festering for some fans of top-flight football this season - the idea that the Premier League has become boring.

From BBC

Her dad found some wiggle room in that decision, implying that “vegetable” status might leave room for discussion.

From Los Angeles Times