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▪ I. † ˈniggling, vbl. n.1 Obs. Cant.
[f. niggle v.1 + -ing1.]
(See quots.)
1608Dekker Lanth. & Candle Lt., Cant. Dict., Niggling, company keeping with a woman [1610 Rowlands Martin Mark-all E 3, This word is not used now]. 1641Brome Joviall Crew ii. Wks. 1873 III. 391 The Autum-Mort finds better sport In bowsing then in nigling. a1700B. E. Dict. Cant. Crew, Nigling, accompanying with a Woman.
▪ II. niggling, vbl. n.2|ˈnɪglɪŋ|
[f. niggle v.2]
1. Trifling or fiddling work; over-attention to details; mean or petty dealing.
1829Marryat F. Mildmay viii, Cleanliness and good order are what seamen like; but niggling, polishing, scraping iron bars, and the like of that a sailor dislikes. 1840Thackeray Catherine x, The man was well fitted for the creeping and niggling of his dastardly trade. 1881Times 5 Feb. 9/2 He will grant them some powers, but not all they are asking for... This of course is mere niggling.
2. Over-elaboration of detail in art.
1860Ruskin Mod. Paint. V. vi. v. §6. 37 So long as the work is thoughtfully directed, there is no niggling. 1886R. C. Leslie Sea Painter's Log 132 No amount of niggling will atone for the want of such touches.
▪ III. ˈniggling, ppl. a.
[f. as prec. + -ing2.]
1. Trifling, mean, petty; deficient in force or vigour; lacking in breadth of view or feeling.
1599Nashe Lenten Stuffe Wks. (Grosart) V. 203 All the King of Spaines Indies will not create me such a nigling Hexameter-sounder as he [Homer] was.
1827Southey Lett. (1856) IV. 73 Neither did I like the niggling way in which they dealt with me. 1852C. W. H[oskins] Talpa 126 Your unprofitable expense is ever peeping out in the niggling nature of your plans. 1876Stubbs Study Med. & Mod. Hist. iii. (1886) 53 We do not want..niggling articles, which enumerate the mistakes and misstatements of a book. 1891Baring-Gould Hist. Oddities Ser. ii. iii. 76 This little court..played a niggling game at petty intrigue.
b. Fiddling, troublesome, finicking.
1863Darwin in Life (1887) III. 312 It is just the sort of niggling work which suits me. 1877Erichsen Surg. (ed. 7) II. 470 It is a niggling instrument, difficult to manage in this situation.
2. Showing too great elaboration of detail; deficient in boldness of execution.
1813Examiner 10 May 229/2 The little, niggling pencilling of Mr. Glover's [landscapes]. 1860Ruskin Mod. Paint. V. vi. v. §6. 38 The whole hand [drawn] within the space of one of those ‘niggling’ touches of Hobbima. 1891Baring-Gould In Troubadour-Land xvii. 248 He has carried the face of his niggling little buttresses flush with the massive walls of the great towers.
b. Of handwriting: Consisting of short feeble strokes; cramped.
1854A. E. Baker Northampt. Gloss. s.v., A niggling hand. 1890Spectator 12 July 48/1 The most resolute person we know writes a niggling scrawl, hardly legible.
Add:[1.] c. Causing one to experience slight but persistent anxiety or annoyance; troublesome or irritating in a petty way. Freq. as niggling doubt, niggling fear.
1945J. Corbett Agent No. 5 vii. 71 Into seclusion where he could..pour out the whole of his miserable thoughts and niggling suspicions. 1972Which? Apr. 63/2 Not a high performance car, but quiet, comfortable, touring saloon... A few niggling features like poor pedals and heavy steering. 1983S. Kitzinger Woman's Experience of Sex i. 114 Perhaps there is the niggling fear that without sex we shall miss out on love and that nobody will want us. 1988N.Y. Times 11 Mar. c22/4 There is a niggling doubt: Are these all actors? |