fiddlen.
/ˈfɪdl/, U.S. /ˈfɪd(ə)l/ 1. A stringed instrument of music; usually, the violin, but also (with defining word as in bass fiddle) applied to other instruments of the viol kind. Now only in familiar or contemptuous use.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > musical instrument > stringed instruments > bowable instrument > [noun] > fiddle
fiddlec1275
trunk-wame16..
crowda1627
bosh1876
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 3490 Of harpe & of salteriun. of fiðele & of coriun.
1377 W. Langland Piers Plowman B. ix. 102 Wolde neuere þe faithful fader his fithel were ontempred.
a1525 (c1448) R. Holland Bk. Howlat l. 761 in W. A. Craigie Asloan MS (1925) II. 118 The lilt pype and ye lute, ye fydill in fist.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) 1 Sam. xviii. 6 With tymbrels, with myrth, and with fyddels.
1589 J. Lyly Pappe with Hatchet E iij b I must tune my fiddle, and fetch some more rozen.
a1680 S. Butler Genuine Remains (1759) I. 158 Till all you built appear'd Like that, Amphion with his Fiddle rear'd.
1740 W. Somervile Hobbinol i. 323 Shrill Fiddles squeak Hoarse Bag-pipes roar.
1853 W. M. Thackeray Newcomes (1854) I. ii. 22 Engaged in London in giving private lessons on the fiddle.
1870 H. Smart Race for Wife i. 3 The dear old country fiddles are playing..dance-music.
2. Applied to the player.
a. = fiddler n. the fiddles: the band of fiddlers.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > musician > instrumentalist > company of instrumentalists > [noun] > band > type of
waits1298
consort1587
wait player1610
wind music1650
the fiddles1676
military band1775
German band1819
street band1826
brass band1834
promenade band1836
horn-band1849
pipe band1867
wind-band1876
Hungarian band1882
jazz band1916
jazz orchestra1916
big band1919
road band1922
Schrammel quartet1924
showband1926
spasm band1926
dance-band1927
marching band1930
name band1932
ork1933
silver band1933
sweet band1935
Schrammel orchestra1938
pop band1942
jug band1946
steel band1949
rehearsal band1957
skiffle band1957
ghost band1962
support band1969
support group1969
scratch band1982
society > leisure > the arts > music > musician > instrumentalist > string player > [noun] > fiddler
fiddlera1100
gigoura1300
minikin tickler1607
scraper1611
gut-vexer1640
rosin-the-bow1767
fiddle1773
scrape-gut1837
bosh-man1846
bosh-faker1859
bosh-killer1935
1676 A. Marvell Mr. Smirke sig. K2 Envy began to dance among the Bishops first, the good Constantine brought them the Fiddles.
1773 P. Brydone Tour Sicily & Malta I. i. 12 Barbella, the sweetest fiddle in Italy, leads our little band.
b. transferred. One to whose music others dance; hence, a mirth-maker, jester.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > performance of jester or comedian > [noun] > jester or comedian
jugglerc1175
foolc1300
jangler1303
fool sagec1330
ribald1340
ape-ward1362
japer1377
sage fool1377
harlotc1390
disporter?a1475
jocular?a1475
joculatora1500
jester?1518
idiot1526
scoffer1530
sporter1531
dizzardc1540
vice1552
antic1564
bauble-bearer1568
scoggin1579
buffoon1584
pleasant1595
zany1596
baladine1599
clown1600
fiddle1600
mimic1601
ape-carrier1615
mime1616
mime-man1631
merry man1648
tomfool1650
pickle-herring1656
badine1670
puddingc1675
merry-andrew1677
mimical1688
Tom Tram1688
Monaghan1689
pickled herring1711
ethologist1727
court-foola1797
Tom1817
mimer1819
fun-maker1835
funny man1839
mimester1846
comic1857
comedian1860
jokesman1882
comique1886
Joey1896
tummler1938
alternative comedian1981
Andrew-
the mind > emotion > pleasure > laughter > causing laughter > [noun] > jest or pleasantry > one who jests or jokes
jangler1303
bourder1330
triflera1382
mower1440
jester?1510
dizzardc1540
patch1549
pleasant1595
fiddle1600
motleya1605
banterer1678
morosoph1693
joker1729
farceur1781
funster1788
plaisanteur1828
cut-up1843
kibitzer1925
1600 N. Breton Pasquils Mad-cap 64 in Wks. (1879) 9 He may be but a foole, and she a fiddle.
1693 J. Locke Some Thoughts conc. Educ. §165. 208 You would not have your Son the Fiddle to every jovial Company.
1740 C. Cibber Apol. Life C. Cibber i. 11 His easy Humour, whenever he is called to it [sc. company], can still make himself the Fiddle of it.
1743 A. Pope Dunciad (rev. ed.) i. 224 At once the Bear and Fiddle of the town.
1837 F. Marryat Snarleyyow (ed. 2) I. v. 44 He was..the fiddle of the ship's company.
3. Something resembling a fiddle in shape or appearance:
Thesaurus »
Categories »
a. Nautical (see quot. 1867);
Categories »
b. Agriculture (see quot. 1874);
c. Gunsmithing (see quot. 1881).
ΚΠ
1865 Daily Tel. 21 Aug. 5/2 A heavy sea, which..caused the production of ‘fiddles’ on the saloon tables at lunch time.
1867 W. H. Smyth & E. Belcher Sailor's Word-bk. Fiddle, a contrivance to prevent things from rolling off the table in bad weather.
1874 E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. Fiddle..a wooden bar about 11 feet long, attached by ropes at its ends to the traces of a horse, and used to drag loose straw or hay on the ground, [etc.].
1881 W. W. Greener Gun & its Devel. 248 The value of a stock is greatly enhanced by a species of cross pattern, or ‘fiddle’.
d. Ceramics. A rack in which pieces of ware are placed to drain after having been dipped in liquid glaze.
ΚΠ
1825 J. Nicholson Oper. Mech. 473 Hollow pieces and blue-printed ware, are placed on hair sieves, or on four pieces of sheet iron, from two to three feet long, called a fiddle.
4. In various slang uses:
a. (See quot. 1699).
ΚΠ
1699 B. E. New Dict. Canting Crew Fiddle, a Writ to Arrest.
1785 in F. Grose Classical Dict. Vulgar Tongue
b. A watchman's rattle.
ΚΠ
1823 W. T. Moncrieff Tom & Jerry ii. ii Log. There's the Charlies' fiddles going. Jerry. Charlies' fiddles?—I'm not fly, Doctor. Log. Rattles, Jerry, rattles!
c. Scotch, Welsh fiddle: see the first element.
d. Stock-Exchange: the sixteenth part of a pound.
ΚΠ
1825 C. M. Westmacott Eng. Spy II. 138 To do business with me at a fiddle.
1887 G. D. Atkin House Scraps 15 Done at a fiddle.
e. A sixpence (Farmer).
f. A swindle. Originally U.S.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > taking > stealing or theft > defrauding or swindling > [noun] > instance or piece of
lurch1533
fool-finder1685
chouse1708
swindle1778
swindling1814
do1821
shave1834
steal1872
fiddle1874
diddle1885
ramp1888
tweedle1890
take-down1892
window dressing1892
gyp1898
bobol1907
flanker1923
hype1926
have-on1931
chizz1953
scam1963
rip-off1968
rip1971
1874 Hotten's Slang Dict. (rev. ed.) 160 Fiddle... In America, a swindle or an imposture.
1947 People 22 June 4/2 Says Bevin: ‘I want peace..and we shan't get it unless we deal with one another as friends. I will be a party to no fiddles.’
1958 G. Mitchell Spotted Hemlock xi. 117 Tony and I can do something about it on our own. Not a fiddle, I don't mean.
1959 Spectator 4 Sept. 297/2 I know you'll think this is one of my fiddles. At my last parish we raffled a horse and trap,..a clothes horse and a mousetrap.
5. Used interjectionally: = fiddlestick n.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > importance > unimportance > [noun] > that which is unimportant > of little importance or trivial
gnatc1000
ball play?c1225
smalla1250
triflec1290
fly1297
child's gamec1380
motec1390
mitec1400
child's playc1405
trufferyc1429
toyc1450
curiosity1474
fly-winga1500
neither mass nor matins1528
boys' play1538
nugament1543
knack?1544
fable1552
nincety-fincety1566
mouse1584
molehill1590
coot1594
scoff1594
nidgery1611
pin matter1611
triviality1611
minuity1612
feathera1616
fillip1621
rattle1622
fiddlesticka1625
apex1625
rush candle1628
punctilio1631
rushlight1635
notchet1637
peppercorn1638
petty John1640
emptiness1646
fool-fangle1647
nonny-no1652
crepundian1655
fly-biting1659
pushpin1660
whinny-whanny1673
whiffle1680
straw1692
two and a plack1692
fiddle1695
trivial1715
barley-strawa1721
nothingism1742
curse1763
nihility1765
minutia1782
bee's knee1797
minutiae1797
niff-naff1808
playwork1824
floccinaucity1829
trivialism1830
chicken feed1834
nonsensical1842
meemaw1862
infinitesimality1867
pinfall1868
fidfad1875
flummadiddle1882
quantité négligeable1885
quotidian1902
pipsqueak1905
hickey1909
piddle1910
cream puff1920
squat1934
administrivia1937
chickenshit1938
cream puff1938
diddly-squat1963
non-issue1965
Tinkertoy1972
1695 W. Congreve Love for Love v. i. 84 Fore. Hussy you shall have a Rod. Miss. A Fiddle of a Rod, I'll have a Husband.
1839 C. Dickens Nicholas Nickleby i. 4 ‘If we should lose it, we shall no longer be able to live, my dear.’ ‘Fiddle,’ said Mrs. Nickleby.
6. The action of fiddling, or figurative of fussy trifling.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > importance > unimportance > [noun] > emptiness or insubstantiality > frivolity or lack of seriousness
nugationc1450
nugacity1593
fiddling1622
frivolousnessa1631
nugality1676
futility1692
futileness1727
flippancy1746
frivolity1796
nugatoriness1853
frippery1855
fiddle1874
fribble1881
frivolling1882
fribblery1889
trifledom1903
1874 J. S. Blackie On Self-culture 89 The eternal whirl and fiddle of life, so characteristic of our..neighbours across the Channel.
Phrases
In colloquial phrases: as fine as a fiddle = as fit as a fiddle. as fit as a fiddle: in good ‘form’ or condition. to hang up one's fiddle: to retire from business, give up an undertaking. to hang up one's fiddle when one comes home: said of persons who are entertaining abroad but not in their family circle. to play first (or second) fiddle: to take a leading (or subordinate) position. to play third fiddle, to be the third party. to have one's face made of a fiddle: to be irresistibly charming. to have a face as long as a fiddle: to look dismal.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > [adjective] > of health: good > fit
well-breatheda1425
long-breatheda1513
fitly1570
long-winded1578
as fit as a fiddle1603
toned1745
well-braced1859
fit1869
(as) fit as a flea1889
fighting-fit1891
pinkish1949
aerobicized1983
the mind > attention and judgement > attractiveness > be attractive [phrase]
to have one's face made of a fiddle1762
the mind > attention and judgement > importance > [verb (intransitive)] > other
to take the right-hand file1616
first1635
to speak in capitals?1694
to take the (or a) lead1761
to play first (or second) fiddle1778
to play first violin1780
to be no great (some great, considerable, etc.) shakes1819
to pitch it strong1823
to come out strong1825
violin1895
repeat1923
society > occupation and work > lack of work > [verb (intransitive)] > vacate an office or position > retire
recede1452
retirec1598
to make one's bowa1656
to hang up one's fiddle1833
society > leisure > entertainment > [verb (intransitive)] > abroad, but not in family circle
to hang up one's fiddle when one comes home1836
the world > action or operation > completing > non-completion > abandon an attempt or enterprise [verb (intransitive)]
unbenda1400
unbinda1400
to leave (a person) the field?c1450
to give upa1616
to call (it) quits1851
to pull the pin1860
to hang up one's fiddle1889
to pack in1906
to pack up1925
to cop out1942
to give it away1949
1603 tr. Batchelars Banquet iii. sig. C2v Then comes downe mistresse Nurse as fine as a farthing fiddle, in her petticoate and kertle.
a1605 W. Haughton English-men for my Money (1616) sig. Gv This is excellent ynfayth, as fit as a Fiddle.
a1605 W. Haughton English-men for my Money (1616) sig. K3v This is excellent, this is as fine as a Fiddle.
a1625 J. Fletcher Women Pleas'd iv. iii, in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. Eeeeee4v/1 Bart. Am I come fit Penurio? Pen. As fit as a fiddle.
1762 T. Smollett Adventures Sir Launcelot Greaves I. viii. 165 Your honour's face is made of a fiddle; every one that looks on you loves you.
1778 G. L. Way Learning at Loss II. 79 Our Friends..returned, with Jack Solecism the first Fiddle as usual.
1809 B. H. Malkin tr. A. R. Le Sage Adventures Gil Blas IV. x. xi. 187 I am quite at your service to play second fiddle in all your laudable enterprises.
1811 Massachusetts Spy 20 Mar. 4/1 But pleasures are brittle as glass, Although as a fiddle they're fine.
1815 D. Humphreys Yankey in Eng. 37 I am as fine as a fiddle.
1816 W. Scott Old Mortality viii, in Tales of my Landlord 1st Ser. IV. 163 How could I help it? His face was made of a fiddle.
1822 B. E. O'Meara Napoleon in Exile I. 227 He was of opinion that Prussia should never play the first fiddle in the affairs of the Continent.
1827 J. K. Paulding tr. Bk. St. Nicholas (1836) 78 Pleasure sleighs, which, at that period it was the fashion among farmers to have as fine as fiddles.
1833 S. Smith Life & Writings Major Jack Downing 90 (Weingarten) You'll have to hang up your fiddle till another year.
1836 W. Dunlap Mem. Water Drinker II. 6 He does not hang his fiddle up behind the street-door when he comes home.
1862 H. Kingsley Ravenshoe III. ix. 140 It was evident that..he had been playing..second fiddle.
1862 C. C. Robinson Dial. Leeds & Neighbourhood 407 As fine as a fiddle.
1866 ‘M. Twain’ Lett. from Sandwich Islands 9 America..is out in the cold now, and does not even play third fiddle to this European element.
1870 H. B. Stowe Oldtown Fireside Stories (1871) 185 Wal, you see, from the time that Bill Elderkin come and took the academy, I could see plain enough that it was time for me to hang up my fiddle.
1882 M. E. Braddon Mt. Royal III. xi. 253 ‘Is Salathiel pretty fresh?’ asked the Baron. ‘Fit as a fiddle’.
1889 D. Hannay Life F. Marryat ix He did not entirely hang his fiddle up when he came home.
1889 H. O'Reilly & J. Y. Nelson Fifty Years on Trail 11 I arrived at my destination feeling as fit as a fiddle.
1889 ‘E. Lyall’ Derrick Vaughan ii I took care to drop behind, having no taste for the third-fiddle business.
1931 ‘L. Thayer’ Last Shot iv. 40 There you are, Stanley. Looking as fine as a fiddle.
Compounds
C1.
a. General attributive.
fiddle-lore n.
ΚΠ
1885 Pall Mall Gaz. 9 June 1/2 Now is the time for all fiddle lovers to go and rub up their fiddle lore.
fiddle-make n.
ΚΠ
1864 Sandys & Forster Hist. Violin ix. 125 A large instrument of the fiddle make.
b. Objective.
(a)
fiddle-fabricant n.
ΚΠ
1852 G. Dubourg Violin (ed. 4) ix. 350 The noted Tyrolese fiddle-fabricants.
fiddle-fancier n.
ΚΠ
1836 Dubourg Violin ix. 269 An ingenious fiddle-fancier.
fiddle-holder n.
ΚΠ
1875 J. Bishop tr. J. A. Otto Treat. Violin (new ed.) App. v. 85 L. Spohr..invented what he called a fiddle-holder.
fiddle-lover n.
ΚΠ
1885 Pall Mall Gaz. 9 June 1/2 Now is the time for all fiddle lovers to go and rub up their fiddle lore.
fiddle-maker n.
ΚΠ
a1680 S. Butler Genuine Remains (1759) II. 181 A good Fiddle-Maker.
1885 Pall Mall Gaz. 9 June 2/1 The great emperor of all fiddle-makers, Antonius Stradivarius.
(b)
fiddle-making n.
ΚΠ
1884 E. Heron-Allen Violin-making ii. vi. 129 The wood used in fiddle-making should be thoroughly dry.
(c)
fiddle-scraping adj.
ΚΠ
1879 W. Besant & J. Rice 'Twas in Trafalgar's Bay (1891) ii. 21 She came to comparing her son—the fiddle-scraping son—with his late father.
C2. † fiddle-brained adj. Obsolete foolish, frivolous.
fiddle-back n. (a) a back (of a chair) shaped like a fiddle, also attributive in fiddle-back wood, a name given to various ornamental woods used for the covers of books; (b) = fiddler beetle n. at fiddler n. Compounds 2; (c) a chasuble with the front section shaped like a fiddle; (d) a grain found in wood used for violin-making.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > raw material > wood > [noun] > grain
long grain1542
grain1565
felt-grain1703
silver grain1801
figure1875
fiddle-back1890
society > faith > artefacts > vestments > outer garments > [noun] > chasuble > with front like fiddle
fiddle-back1890
the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > class Insecta > order Coleoptera or beetles and weevils > [noun] > Polyphaga (omnivorous) > superfamily Lamellicornia Scarabaeoidea > family Scarabaeidae > eupoecila australasiae (fiddler beetle)
fiddle-back1890
fiddler beetle1917
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > furniture and fittings > seat > chair > [noun] > parts of chairs > back > type of
splat1833
yoke back1835
fiddle-back1890
shield1897
comb-back1901
spoon-back1909
1890 Longman's Mag. Jan. 312 A tall, old Chippendale arm~chair, with a quaintly-carved ‘fiddle’-back.
1898 E. E. Morris Austral Eng. 144/1 Fiddle-back, name given in Australia to the beetle, Schizorrhina australasiæ.
1899 P. Dearmer Parson's Handbk. iii. 91 There is no need in an English vestment for the pieces of ribbon without which it seems impossible to keep a ‘fiddle~back’ in position.
1908 P. Macquoid Hist. Eng. Furnit. IV. ii. 62 Harewood or hairwood is the same cutting of sycamore as that used in the manufacture of violins, and consequently termed fiddleback.
1938 H. E. Desch Timber iv. 42 Wavy grain..gives rise to a series of..variations in the reflection of light from the surface of the fibres: this is called fiddle-back figure.
1948 T. Corkhill Gloss. Wood 185 Fiddleback... Fine wavy grain common to sycamore and maple and used for the backs of violins.
1948 T. Corkhill Gloss. Wood 327 Highly figured wood is called Bird's Eye, Blister, Curly, and Fiddleback Maple.
1956 F. W. Jane Struct. Wood x. 227 Because it has become almost a convention to use wood so figured for the backs of violins, it is commonly known as fiddle-back figure.
1960 P. F. Anson Fashions Church Furnishings xxx. 319 Skirts ending at the knees went with fiddle-back chasubles of about the same length in the more extreme Anglo-Catholic churches.
1960 P. F. Anson Fashions Church Furnishings xxx. 363 Fiddle-back vestments of Baroque or Rococo style were taboo.
1969 E. H. Pinto Treen 439 Fiddle~back..occurs in some logs of sycamore, maple, mahogany, satinwood, etc.
fiddle-block n. Nautical (see quot. 1858).
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > lifting or hoisting equipment > [noun] > tackle > pulley(s) mounted in case > types of
snatch-blocka1625
runnera1738
jack block1794
mufflea1830
snatch1850
fiddle-block1858
truss-block1883
spider-sheave1903
power block1928
1858 P. L. Simmonds Dict. Trade Products Fiddle-block, a block with two sheaves, one over the other; the lower one smaller than the other.
1882 G. S. Nares Seamanship (ed. 6) 44 The lower end [is] spliced round the fiddle block.
fiddle-boat n. (see quot.).
ΚΠ
1890 W. J. Gordon Foundry 120 The fiddle-boat being two boats, or rather two sections of a boat, rigged catamaran fashion and having the wheel in the middle.
fiddle-dock n. (see quot. 1823).
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > plants and herbs > according to family > Polygonaceae (dock and allies) > [noun] > dock and allies
red dockeOE
dockc1000
rhubarbc1390
docken1423
patience?a1425
round dock1526
Rumex1565
wild patience1578
bloody dock1597
monk's rhubarb1597
Welsh sorrel1640
butterdock1688
mountain rhapontic1728
mountain sorrel1753
Rheum1753
redshank1810
patience dock1816
fiddle-dock1823
canaigre1868
nettle-docken1891
1823 G. Crabb Universal Technol. Dict. Fiddle~dock (Bot.), the Rumex pulcher of Linnæus.
fiddle-drill n. a drill rotated by a string and bow, a bow-drill.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > piercing or boring tools > [noun] > drill > drill worked by string or cord
bow-drill1865
cord-drill1865
pump drill1865
thong-drill1865
fiddle-drill1888
Yankee fiddle1892
1888 Lockwood's Dict. Mech. Engin. Bow drill, a fiddle drill.
1964 W. L. Goodman Hist. Woodworking Tools 163 A full range of bow and fiddle drills.
fiddle-faced adj. pulling a long face, unhappy looking.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > suffering > dejection > [adjective] > of the appearance or face
louring13..
sada1375
frowningc1386
fluishc1460
Lentena1500
glumming1526
Friday-faced1583
becloudeda1586
gash1589
dark1593
mumping1594
hanging1607
fiddle-facedc1785
murky1830
unsunned1838
thought-ladena1847
unsunny1859
unhappy-looking1863
unhappy-faced1876
boot-faced1958
c1785 John Thompson's Man (1829) 17 Fiddle faced, wagtailed fellows.
1885 W. Westall Larry Lohengrin I. v White-chokered, strait-laced and fiddle-faced.
fiddle-fish n. (a) a name given to the Angel-fish or Monk-fish; (b) (see quot. 1867).
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > fish > subclass Elasmobranchii > order Pleurotremata > [noun] > angel-fish or monk-fish
monkfish1582
sea-monk1611
sea-devil1634
kingston1666
angelfish1668
skate1668
piper1673
mermaid fish1738
fiddle-fish1748
fiddler1750
monk1756
angel shark1776
shark-ray1836
puppy-fish1880
squat1884
sea-angel1891
the world > food and drink > food > animals for food > seafood > [noun] > crab
crabc1000
partan1428
punger1586
red crab1825
fiddle-fish1867
partan-crab1893
muddy1953
the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > order Xiphosura or Merostomata > [noun] > genus Limulus > member of
king crabc1612
horse-foot1672
Molucca crab1681
sea-louse1681
horse-hoof1699
horseshoe1775
saucepan crab1863
horseshoe-crab1865
fiddle-fish1867
xiphosurid1969
1748 B. Robins & R. Walter Voy. round World by Anson ii. xii. 266 The Torpedo, or numbing fish, which is in shape very like the fiddle-fish.
1859 All Year Round 3 Sept. 451 The fiddle-fish (shaped like the butt of a fiddle).
1867 W. H. Smyth & E. Belcher Sailor's Word-bk. Fiddle-fish, a name of the king-crab (Limulus polyphemus).
fiddle-flanked adj. having hollow flanks like a fiddle.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > external parts of body > trunk > side > [adjective] > types of
long-sidedc1450
fiddle-flankedc1785
slab-sided1817
c1785 John Thompson's Man 15 Foul-breeked, rep-shanked, fiddle-flanked.
fiddle-grass n. (see quot.).
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > plants and herbs > according to family > Onagraceae (willow-herbs) > [noun]
willow-herb1578
bindweed nightshade1597
enchanter's nightshade1597
rosebay1597
willow1597
French willow1601
willow-flower1633
rose withy1650
codlings-and-cream1670
willow weed1741
gooseberry fool1785
epilobium1809
onagrad1846
cherry-pie1857
apple pie plant1858
slink-weed1858
fiddle-grass1878
epilobe1883
satin flower1891
1878–86 J. Britten & R. Holland Dict. Eng. Plant-names Fiddle Grass, Epilobium hirsutum L.
fiddle idol n. (see quot. 1961).
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > plastic art > statuary > [noun] > statue > Palaeolithic or Neolithic
birdstone1881
Venus1912
fiddle idol1939
1939 V. G. Childe Dawn European Civilization (ed. 3) iv. 51 The cists..contain several skeletons together with vases..and ‘fiddle idols’.
1961 Observer 24 Sept. 35/3 Neolithic figurines..known as fiddle idols carved by some of the islanders of the Aegean. These are flattish marble plaques with no features beyond the swelling outline of breasts and hips.
fiddle-lipped adj. of a flower, having a lip shaped like a fiddle.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > part of plant > reproductive part(s) > flower or part containing reproductive organs > [adjective] > having or relating to parts > of or having a lip
labiate1706
two-lipped1787
unilabiate1826
fiddle-lipped1836
1836 J. C. Loudon Encycl. Plants (rev. ed.) 4 Zingiber panduratum, fiddle-lipped.
fiddle-pattern n. the pattern of ‘fiddle-headed’ spoons and forks.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > setting table > table utensils > [noun] > cutlery > spoon > of specific design
maidenhead1495
fiddle-pattern1865
rat-tail1891
1865 Reading Industr. Exhib. Catal. in Reading Mercury (1968) 17 Aug. 11 R. Bracher..advertises his fiddle-pattern spoons and forks at 7s. 4d. per oz.
1926–7 Army & Navy Stores Catal. 184/2 Spoons, forks, etc., nickel silver, fiddle pattern.
fiddle-patterned adj. = fiddle-headed adj. b.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > setting table > table utensils > [adjective] > relating to type or pattern of cutlery > specific spoon
slipped1618
fiddle-patterned1842
rat-tailed1870
trifid1892
1842 R. H. Barham Misadventures Margate in Ingoldsby Legends 2nd Ser. 154 I could not see my table-spoons..The little fiddle-pattern'd ones I use.
fiddle-shaped adj. Botany (see quot. 1866; rendering modern Latin panduriformis).
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > shape > curvature > types of curvature > [adjective] > having other specific curved shape
enharpeda1529
roach-bent1575
imbricate1656
pelecoid1728
pear-shaped1731
sabre-shaped1796
fiddle-shaped1819
jug handle1846
round-shouldered1849
figure-six1851
lyriform1857
strigiliform1873
1819 A. Rees Cycl. XIV. (at cited word) Fiddle-shaped leaf..is oblong, broad at the two extremities and contracted in the middle, like a fiddle or some sort of guitar.
1866 J. Lindley & T. Moore Treasury Bot. Fiddle-shaped, obovate, with one or two recesses or indentations on each side.
fiddlewood n. (a) the Citharexylon; (b) (see quot. 1878-86).
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular timber trees or shrubs > [noun] > other timber trees
jasmine-wood1712
fiddlewood1714
loblolly tree1750
rosewood1755
loblolly-wood1756
horn-beech1771
hop hornbeam1785
olive wood1866
myrtle1880
pounce tree1884
rosebush1889
the world > plants > particular plants > plants and herbs > according to family > Scrophulariaceae (figwort and allies) > [noun] > figwort and allies
brownwortc1000
scrophularyc1400
water betonyc1400
bishop-leaves1597
fig-wort1597
kernel-wort1597
pilewort1640
scrophularia1663
water figwort1670
rose noble1808
snake's head1834
salpiglossid1846
salt-rheum weed1846
Cornish money-wort1848
turtle-head1857
scrophulariad1866
fiddlewood1878–86
stinking Christopher1878
stinkwort1890
1714 J. Petiver in Philos. Trans. 1713 (Royal Soc.) 28 216 Barbadoes Fiddle-wood, Citharexylum Americanum.
1756 P. Browne Civil & Nat. Hist. Jamaica ii. ii. 265 Black-heart Fiddle-wood.
1878–86 J. Britten & R. Holland Dict. Eng. Plant-names Fiddle~wood, Scrophularia aquatica.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1895; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
fiddlev.
/ˈfɪdl/, U.S. /ˈfɪd(ə)l/ 1.
a. intransitive. To play the fiddle or violin; now only in familiar or contemptuous use. Also figurative.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > performing music > playing instruments > playing stringed instrument > play stringed instrument [verb (intransitive)] > play fiddle
fiddle1377
crowd1589
scrape1599
to jig it1808
rasp1842
tweetle1912
1377 W. Langland Piers Plowman B. xiii. 231 For I can noither tabre ne trompe..ne fythelen at festes, ne harpen.
c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 159/2 Fydelin, or fyielyn, vitulor.
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 549/1 Can you fyddell and playe upon a tabouret to?
1629 J. Ford Lovers Melancholy v. 78 What do'st think I am, that thou should'st fiddle So much vpon my patience?
a1661 T. Fuller Worthies (1662) Lanc. 120 This man could not fidle, could not Tune himself to be pleasant and plausible to all Companies.
1742 A. Pope New Dunciad 590 Others..Teach Kings to fiddle, and make Senates dance.
1836 W. Irving Astoria I. 216 They feast, they fiddle, they drink, they sing.
b. quasi-transitive with cognate object. In quot. figurative.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > performing music > playing instruments > playing stringed instrument > play stringed instrument [verb (transitive)] > play fiddle
fiddle1377
firk1668
1377 W. Langland Piers Plowman B. xiii. 447 A lered man, to lere þe what oure lorde suffred..And fithel þe without flaterynge of gode friday þe storye.
1870 The Universe 21 May 2/4 We had used to say they were ignorant, but now when we see a..monk-taught boy we fiddle another tune.
c. transitive with adverbs (nonce-uses).
ΚΠ
1532 T. More Confut. Barnes in Wks. (1557) 739/2 All maner of people be he pope or pedeler..monke or myller, frere or fideler, or anye of the remenaunt that thys fonde frere fiddeleth forth here by letters.
1593 T. Nashe Christs Teares 39 b Blowne vp honour, honour by antick fawning fidled vp.
a1657 G. Daniel Trinarchodia in Poems (1878) III. To Rdr. 133 Let Nero fiddle out Rome's Obsequies.
1864 Fraser's Mag. Apr. 403 That impulsive band which proposed to fiddle down the walls of our Social Jericho.
2. technical. (See quot. 1883.)
ΚΠ
1883 Gill in Encycl. Brit. XVI. 244 at Micrometer Each movable web must pass the other without coming in contact with it or the fixed wire and without rubbing on any part of the brass-work. Should either fault occur (technically called ‘fiddling’) it is fatal to accurate measurement.
3.
a. To make aimless or frivolous movements; esp. to play, toy about, at, on, over, with (a thing, rarely, a person); to act idly or frivolously. Also to fiddle about.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > inaction > idleness, lack of occupation or activity > be idle or unoccupied [verb (intransitive)] > potter or waste time in trifling activity
trifle?a1400
loiterc1400
tiffc1440
tifflec1440
to pick a salad1520
to play the wanton1529
fiddle1530
dauntc1540
piddle1545
dally?1548
pittlea1568
pingle1574
puddle1591
to thrum caps1594
maginate1623
meecha1625
pudder1624
dabble1631
fanfreluche1653
dawdlea1656
taigle17..
niff-naff1728
tiddle1747
peddle1755
gammer1788
quiddle1789
muddle1791
browse1803
niddle1808
poke1811
fal-lal1818
potter1824
footer1825
putter1827
shaffle1828
to fool about1838
mike1838
piffle1847
mess1853
to muck about1856
tinker1856
bohemianize1857
to fool around1860
frivol1866
june1869
muss1876
to muddle about (also around)1877
slummock1877
dicker1888
moodle1893
to fart about1899
to fart about (or around)1899
plouter1899
futz1907
monkey1916
to arse around1919
to play around1929
to fuck around1931
tool1932
frig1933
boondoggle1935
to muck around1935
to screw around1935
to bugger about1937
to bugger around1939
to piss about1943
to dick around1948
to jerk around1953
fart-arse1954
to fanny around1969
slop1973
dork1982
to twat around (or about)1992
to dick about1996
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 549/1 Loke you fydell nat with your handes whan your maister speketh to you.
1604 T. Wright Passions of Minde (new ed.) iv. ii. §3. 133 Some men you haue alwaies fidling about their garments.
1663 S. Pepys Diary 13 July (1971) IV. 230 The ladies walked, talking and fidling with their hats and feathers.
1708 W. King Art of Love xii. 141 Her Fingers, or her Tongue would fiddle.
1738 J. Swift Compl. Coll. Genteel Conversat. 176 He took a Pipe in his Hand, and fiddled with it till he broke it.
1741 W. Oldys et al. Betterton's Hist. Eng. Stage v. 64 Some are perpetually fidling about their Cloaths.
a1766 F. Sheridan Concl. Mem. Miss Sidney Bidulph (1767) IV. 134 I had pretended to be fiddling at it all the time we were at tea.
1855 R. Browning Fra Lippo Lippi in Men & Women I. 36 You'll take Your hand away that's fiddling on my throat.
1883 H. Smart Hard Lines I. iii They've had him fiddling about so long in the school, he's most likely forgot how to gallop.
1884 Sat. Rev. 12 July 40/1 A Ministry fiddling with Franchise Bills.
b. slang. (See quot. 1851.)
ΚΠ
1851 H. Mayhew London Labour I. 199/1 A lad, that had been lucky ‘fiddling’ (holding horses, or picking up money anyhow).
c. trans. to fiddle away: to fritter away.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > relinquishing > squandering or prodigality > squander [verb (transitive)]
forspendc893
scatter1154
dispend1303
waste1340
misspendc1390
miswastec1400
consumec1425
waste1474
profund1527
lasha1535
prodige1538
lavish1542
to play away1562
riot1566
embezzle1578
dilapidate1590
squander1593
confound1598
to make ducks and drakes of or withc1600
prodigalize1611
profuse1611
squander1611
paddle1616
bezzle1617
to run out of ——1622
to piss away1628
prodigal1628
decoct1629
to bangle (away)1632
debauch1632
deboise1632
to fribble away1633
to fool out1635
to run outa1640
to fiddle away1667
slattera1681
dissipate1682
to play off1693
duck-and-drake1700
liquidate1702
sparkle away1703
waster1821
befool1861
to frivol away1866
to play (at) duck and drake with1872
to fling away1873
mislive1887
slather1904
mucker1928
profligate1938
peter1956
spaff2002
the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > disadvantage > uselessness > misuse > [verb (transitive)] > waste
spilla1000
scatter1154
aspilla1250
rospa1325
waste1340
spend1390
consumec1425
waste1474
miswenda1500
forsumea1510
to cast away1530
to throw away1561
embezzle1578
squander1593
palter1595
profuse1611
squander1611
ravel1614
sport1622
to fool away1628
to stream out1628
to fribble away1633
sweal1655
frisk1665
to fiddle away1667
wantonize1673
slattera1681
swattle1681
drivel1686
swatter1690
to muddle away1707
squander1717
sot1746
slattern1747
meisle1808
fritter1820
waster1821
slobber1837
to cut to waste1863
fringe1863
potter1883
putter1911
profligate1938
to piddle away1942
haemorrhage1978
spaff2002
1667 H. More Divine Dialogues (1713) ii. xiv. 132 [They] fiddle away their time as idlely as those that pill Straws.
1861 A. Beresford-Hope Eng. Cathedral of 19th Cent. vi. 221 The common~place way of treating it is that of simply fiddling it away.
4. transitive and intransitive. To cheat, swindle; to ‘wangle’, intrigue; (see also quot. 1850). Also with into, out of. Now only slang.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > taking > stealing or theft > defrauding or swindling > perpetrate (a swindle) [verb (transitive)] > defraud or swindle
defraud1362
deceivec1380
plucka1500
lurch1530
defeata1538
souse1545
lick1548
wipe1549
fraud1563
use1564
cozen1573
nick1576
verse1591
rooka1595
trim1600
skelder1602
firk1604
dry-shave1620
fiddle1630
nose1637
foista1640
doa1642
sharka1650
chouse1654
burn1655
bilk1672
under-enter1692
sharp1699
stick1699
finger1709
roguea1714
fling1749
swindle1773
jink1777
queer1778
to do over1781
jump1789
mace1790
chisel1808
slang1812
bucket1819
to clean out1819
give it1819
to put in the hole1819
ramp1819
sting1819
victimize1839
financier1840
gum1840
snakea1861
to take down1865
verneuk1871
bunco1875
rush1875
gyp1879
salt1882
daddle1883
work1884
to have (one) on toast1886
slip1890
to do (a person) in the eye1891
sugar1892
flay1893
to give (someone) the rinky-dink1895
con1896
pad1897
screw1900
short-change1903
to do in1906
window dress1913
ream1914
twist1914
clean1915
rim1918
tweedle1925
hype1926
clip1927
take1927
gazump1928
yentz1930
promote1931
to take (someone) to the cleaners1932
to carve up1933
chizz1948
stiff1950
scam1963
to rip off1969
to stitch up1970
skunk1971
to steal (someone) blind1974
diddle-
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > collusion, intrigue > conspire against [verb (transitive)] > obtain by intrigue
brigue1588
intrigue1747
fiddlea1889
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > collusion, intrigue > conspire, intrigue [verb (intransitive)]
conspirec1384
insidiate1627
collogue1646
intriguea1714
crayfish1930
fiddle1938
1630 T. Dekker Second Pt. Honest Whore v. ii. 117 There was one more that fiddled my fine Pedlers.
1703 D. Defoe Villainy of Stockjobbers Misc. 268 There People can..Fiddle them out of their Money.
1738 Ld. Chesterfield in Common Sense 14 Oct. Somebody else would have been fiddled into it again.
1850 Lloyd's Weekly Newspaper 3 Feb. (Farmer) I understand fiddling—that means, buying a thing for a mere trifle and selling it for double or for more.
1851 H. Mayhew London Labour I. 424/2 The way the globe man does is to go among the old women and fiddle (humbug) them.
1861 H. Mayhew London Labour (new ed.) III. 130/2 We are generally fiddled most tremendous.
a1889 St. Louis Chron. in Barrère & Leland Dict. Slang (1889) I. 360/1 Bob is the man who fiddled himself into Congress.
1938 F. D. Sharpe Sharpe of Flying Squad xv. 169 They fiddled into this job.
1955 Times 12 Aug. 5/4 William Alfred Powell, in evidence, said he approached Heard about getting a letter ‘fiddled out’ for him.
1958 S. Spender Fool & Princess 172 His own power for ‘fiddling’ through... His capacity for making deals.
5. slang. To take liberties with (a woman).
ΚΠ
1639 J. Shirley Ball ii. sig. C2 Fiddling Ladies, you Molecatcher.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1895; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.c1275v.1377