moodlev.
/ˈmuːdl/, U.S. /ˈmud(ə)l/ intransitive. To dawdle aimlessly; to idle time away. Also with about, on.
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
1893 G. B. Shaw 8 Mar. in Music London 1890–4 (1932) II. 260 The literary man..hardly able to believe that the conductor can be serious in keeping the band moodling on for forty-five mortal minutes before the singers get to business.
1921 G. B. Shaw Back to Methuselah v. 223 That old one who saw you out of your shell has gone off to moodle about doing nothing.
1928 G. B. Shaw Intell. Woman's Guide Socialism lxix. 328 Napoleon often moodled about for a week at a time doing nothing but play with his children.
1938 B. Ueland If you want to Write v. 40 That is why you must not just moodle forever.
1991 Christian Sci. Monitor (Nexis) 26 Sept. 16 I am not rushed. I have time to think, time to write, time to ‘moodle’.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2002; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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