toddlen.
/ˈtɒdl/, U.S. /ˈtɑd(ə)l/, Scottish English /ˈtɔd(ə)l/ Originally Scottishand English regional (northern).
1.
a. The action of walking or running with short unsteady steps; an unsteady or faltering walk. Frequently with reference to a young child learning to walk. on the toddle: walking with an unsteady gait; toddling.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > progressive motion > walking > [noun] > manner of walking > with short unsteady steps
toddle?1800
toddling1838
?1800 E. Smith Scath of France 37 Waes me, how oft it is the case, Thy barny shows its winter face, Wi' running toddle.
1837 B. D. Walsh tr. Aristophanes Knights i. iii, in Comedies 186 Now falling and now on the toddle.
1871 R. D. Blackmore Maid of Sker v, in Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Aug. 149/1 The little thing..set off in the bravest toddle for the very bow of the boat.
1901 B. Holmes Lect. (1905) IX. 186 The very walk of the Lily Footed lady—a stilted, uncertain toddle—betrays the suffering resulting from a simple promenade.
1971 Motor Boating & Sailing Aug. 83/1 Most of the village population seems to show up, certainly all the children who can muster anything from a toddle to a trot.
2011 Business Day (S. Afr.) (Nexis) 26 Jan. As an infant, I delayed taking my first steps because I wanted my first toddle to be flawless.
b. colloquial. A leisurely walk, a stroll. Hence figurative: an easy or straightforward task, a ‘walk in the park’ (cf. doddle n.3).
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > aspects of travel > going on foot > [noun] > walking leisurely or idly > an act of
lounge1806
stroll1814
dander1821
toddle1825
saunter1828
paseo1832
pasear1847
potter1897
crawl1905
passeggiata1950
1825 C. M. Westmacott Eng. Spy I. 32 He has been known to have bagged three sparrows after a toodle of three miles.
1830 Sketch of Boston Election 46 A toddle from Chanery-Lane [sic] down to the Bench, must be much more agreeable than a trip to a certain place..Oldgate or Newgate, it don't much matter.
1887 ‘S. Tytler’ Disappeared vi. 93 I'm off to-morrow morning for a toddle in your delectable Germany.
1921 ‘E. M. Delafield’ Heel of Achilles xiii. 199 Let you and me go off somewhere on our own... I'm game for a toddle, if you are.
1964 N.Y. Times 2 Feb. s2/3 At the starting line an Englishman said disgustingly: ‘It's a toddle for Zardini now.’
2014 Racing Post (Nexis) 25 July 10 A quick toddle down to the local betting shop.
2. colloquial. A toddling child, a toddler. Cf. toddles n. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > people > person > child > [noun]
wenchelc890
childeOE
littleOE
littlingOE
hired-childc1275
smalla1300
brolla1325
innocentc1325
chickc1330
congeonc1330
impc1380
faunt1382
young onec1384
scionc1390
weea1400
birdc1405
chickenc1440
enfaunta1475
small boyc1475
whelp1483
burden1490
little one1509
brat?a1513
younkerkin1528
kitling1541
urchin1556
loneling1579
breed1586
budling1587
pledge?1587
ragazzo1591
simplicity1592
bantling1593
tadpole1594
two-year-old1594
bratcheta1600
lambkin1600
younker1601
dandling1611
buda1616
eyas-musketa1616
dovelinga1618
whelplinga1618
puppet1623
butter printa1625
chit1625
piggy1625
ninnyc1626
youngster1633
fairya1635
lap-child1655
chitterling1675
squeaker1676
cherub1680
kid1690
wean1692
kinchin1699
getlingc1700
totum17..
charity-child1723
small girl1734
poult1739
elfin1748
piggy-wiggy1766
piccaninny1774
suck-thumb18..
teeny1802
olive1803
sprout1813
stumpie1820
sexennarian1821
totty1822
toddle1825
toddles1828
poppet1830
brancher1833
toad1836
toddler1837
ankle-biter1840
yarkera1842
twopenny1844
weeny1844
tottykins1849
toddlekins1852
brattock1858
nipper1859
sprat1860
ninepins1862
angelet1868
tenas man1870
tad1877
tacker1885
chavvy1886
joey1887
toddleskin1890
thumb-sucker1891
littlie1893
peewee1894
tyke1894
che-ild1896
kiddo1896
mother's bairn1896
childling1903
kipper1905
pick1905
small1907
God forbid1909
preadolescent1909
subadolescent1914
toto1914
snookums1919
tweenie1919
problem child1920
squirt1924
trottie1924
tiddler1927
subteen1929
perisher1935
poopsie1937
pre-schooler1937
pre-teen1938
pre-teener1940
juvie1941
sprog1944
pikkie1945
subteenager1947
pre-teenager1948
pint-size1954
saucepan lid1960
rug rat1964
smallie1984
bosom-child-
the world > people > person > baby or infant > [noun]
childOE
baban?c1225
fauntekin1377
infant1382
babea1393
fauntelet1393
babyc1400
lakinc1440
mop1440
chrisomer1574
tenderling1587
chrisom1596
childling1648
flosculet1648
bratling1652
lullaby-cheat1665
strangera1674
child (also infant, baby) in armsa1675
hoppet1695
tot1725
bambino1761
weanie1786
tiny1797
dot1800
trudgeon1814
toddle1825
toddles1828
yearnling1829
dab1833
toddler1837
baba1841
arrival1846
teeny-tiny1849
toddlekins1852
mite1853
trot1854
babelet1856
nestler1866
spoon-child1868
bubby1885
chavvy1886
bub1889
kiddy1889
toddleskin1890
newborn1893
kidlet1899
kidling1899
bubba1906
bundle of joy1924
liddly1929
mammet1932
snork1941
kiddywink1957
sproglet1987
1825 J. Jamieson Etymol. Dict. Sc. Lang. Suppl. at Tod Toddle, a designation given to a child, or to a neat person of a small size.
1882 Society 18 Nov. 23/1 A..little pelisse..for a toddle of two-and-a-half.
2014 H. Allen Saga of Country Girl x. 60 On the second floor of the building lived a man with his three little children, the older one was not quite old enough to go to school and the youngest was just a toddle.
Derivatives
ˈtoddlekins n. (also toddlekin) colloquial(now rare) (a name for) a toddling child or toddler; cf. toddleskin n. at toddles n. Derivatives.
ΘΚΠ
the world > people > person > child > [noun]
wenchelc890
childeOE
littleOE
littlingOE
hired-childc1275
smalla1300
brolla1325
innocentc1325
chickc1330
congeonc1330
impc1380
faunt1382
young onec1384
scionc1390
weea1400
birdc1405
chickenc1440
enfaunta1475
small boyc1475
whelp1483
burden1490
little one1509
brat?a1513
younkerkin1528
kitling1541
urchin1556
loneling1579
breed1586
budling1587
pledge?1587
ragazzo1591
simplicity1592
bantling1593
tadpole1594
two-year-old1594
bratcheta1600
lambkin1600
younker1601
dandling1611
buda1616
eyas-musketa1616
dovelinga1618
whelplinga1618
puppet1623
butter printa1625
chit1625
piggy1625
ninnyc1626
youngster1633
fairya1635
lap-child1655
chitterling1675
squeaker1676
cherub1680
kid1690
wean1692
kinchin1699
getlingc1700
totum17..
charity-child1723
small girl1734
poult1739
elfin1748
piggy-wiggy1766
piccaninny1774
suck-thumb18..
teeny1802
olive1803
sprout1813
stumpie1820
sexennarian1821
totty1822
toddle1825
toddles1828
poppet1830
brancher1833
toad1836
toddler1837
ankle-biter1840
yarkera1842
twopenny1844
weeny1844
tottykins1849
toddlekins1852
brattock1858
nipper1859
sprat1860
ninepins1862
angelet1868
tenas man1870
tad1877
tacker1885
chavvy1886
joey1887
toddleskin1890
thumb-sucker1891
littlie1893
peewee1894
tyke1894
che-ild1896
kiddo1896
mother's bairn1896
childling1903
kipper1905
pick1905
small1907
God forbid1909
preadolescent1909
subadolescent1914
toto1914
snookums1919
tweenie1919
problem child1920
squirt1924
trottie1924
tiddler1927
subteen1929
perisher1935
poopsie1937
pre-schooler1937
pre-teen1938
pre-teener1940
juvie1941
sprog1944
pikkie1945
subteenager1947
pre-teenager1948
pint-size1954
saucepan lid1960
rug rat1964
smallie1984
bosom-child-
the world > people > person > baby or infant > [noun]
childOE
baban?c1225
fauntekin1377
infant1382
babea1393
fauntelet1393
babyc1400
lakinc1440
mop1440
chrisomer1574
tenderling1587
chrisom1596
childling1648
flosculet1648
bratling1652
lullaby-cheat1665
strangera1674
child (also infant, baby) in armsa1675
hoppet1695
tot1725
bambino1761
weanie1786
tiny1797
dot1800
trudgeon1814
toddle1825
toddles1828
yearnling1829
dab1833
toddler1837
baba1841
arrival1846
teeny-tiny1849
toddlekins1852
mite1853
trot1854
babelet1856
nestler1866
spoon-child1868
bubby1885
chavvy1886
bub1889
kiddy1889
toddleskin1890
newborn1893
kidlet1899
kidling1899
bubba1906
bundle of joy1924
liddly1929
mammet1932
snork1941
kiddywink1957
sproglet1987
1852 C. J. Mathews (title) Little Toddlekins.
1867 Once a Week 7 Dec. 663/1 He had..no kisses for the youngest girl, a toddlekin of two years old.
1879 G. A. Sala Paris herself Again I. xvii. 287 There were many little manikins and toddlekins.
1919 Jrnl. Mich. State Med. Soc. 18 9/2 The unqualified midwife and the careless or inexperienced physician, who may bury the poor little ‘toddlekins’ through ill-timed or misapplied instrumentation.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2016; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
toddlev.
/ˈtɒd(ə)l/, U.S. /ˈtɑd(ə)l/, Scottish English /ˈtɔd(ə)l/ Originally Scottish and English regional (northern).† 1. intransitive. To play or toy with. Obsolete. rare.† 4. intransitive. Scottish. To bubble (gently) while boiling; to simmer. Cf. tottle v.1 1. Obsolete. rare. N.E.D. (1912) marks this sense as erroneous, remarking: ‘Improperly for tottle.’
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > entertainment > mere amusement > do for mere amusement [verb (transitive)] > toy or trifle with
toddle?a1513
sport?1545
finger1587
quiddlea1652
flirt1859
trick1881
a1513 W. Dunbar Poems (1998) I. 245 He..todlit with hir lyk ane quhelp.
2.
a. intransitive. To walk or run with short unsteady steps. Esp. of a young child learning to walk.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > progressive motion > walking > walk, tread, or step [verb (intransitive)] > with short unsteady steps
toddle?1590
paddle1606
dade1612
diddle1632
daddle1710
dacker1817
tottle1822
tot1824
poddle1827
?1590–1 J. Burel Passage of Pilgremer i, in Poems sig. N2 [The mole] Quhiles dodling, and todling, Vpon fowr prettie feit.
1786 R. Burns Poems & Songs (1968) I. ii. 154 The vera wee things, toddlan, rin, Wi' stocks out owre their shouther.
1791 J. Boswell Life Johnson anno 1783 II. 457 [Johnson:] I should like to come and have a cottage in your park, toddle about, live mostly on milk, and be taken care of by Mrs. Boswell.
1804 C. Smith Conversations I. 23 It would be curious..if I was to be tied to my mother's apron string, and taddle about so.
a1806 Alison Gross x, in R. Jamieson Pop. Ballads & Songs (1806) II. ii. 315/1 She's turn'd me into an ugly worm, And gar'd me toddle about the tree.
1840 W. M. Thackeray Catherine vii When his strength enabled him to toddle abroad.
1859 J. G. Holland Gold Foil xxiii. 266 The first little lambs of the season toddle by the side of their dams.
1879 H. George Progress & Poverty ix. iv. 412 The child just beginning to toddle or to talk will make new efforts.
1930 ‘E. Queen’ French Powder Myst. p. xvi Ellery's son has learned to toddle.
1963 A. Baron Lowlife ix. 73 The little kipper toddled between us, holding both our hands, and over his head we talked.
2012 Green Parent Apr. 14/3 She still came toddling into our room at around midnight to spend the remainder of her sleep time cuddling with mummy and daddy.
b. intransitive. colloquial. To walk with short easy steps; to saunter, stroll. Hence: to proceed in a leisurely or unhurried manner; to go (away), to be off. Now usually with adverbs, as off, along.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > progressive motion > walking > walk, tread, or step [verb (intransitive)] > leisurely or carelessly
lop1587
dander?1590
dandle?1590
lolla1657
saunter1671
sidle1697
sail1699
toddle1726
lollop1745
to loll it1796
waltz1862
faffle1869
flane1876
the world > movement > progressive motion > walking > walk, tread, or step [verb (intransitive)]
stepOE
bistepa1250
to set footc1300
treada1400–50
foota1425
trade1547
stride1596
ambulate1598
purmeinea1614
walka1628
conculcate1657
to tread the ground1691
toddle1819
sashay1878
society > travel > aspects of travel > going on foot > go on foot [verb (intransitive)] > leisurely or idly
raik?c1350
troll1377
spacea1425
jet1530
spacierc1550
snaffle1611
spatiate1626
saunter1671
stroll1680
trollopa1745
dangle1778
doiter1793
stroam1796
browse1803
soodle1821
potter1824
streek1827
streel1839
pasear1840
toddle1848
bummel1900
1726 in A. Ramsay Tea-table Misc. II. 83 Couldna my Love come todlen hame.
1805 R. Anderson Ballads in Cumberland Dial. 59 Now, wi' twee groats and tuppence, I'll e'en toddle heame.
1819 J. H. Vaux New Vocab. Flash Lang. in Memoirs II. 219 Come, let us toddle, is a familiar phrase, signifying, let us be going.
1848 W. M. Thackeray Bk. Snobs xli. 160 We toddled into the Park for an hour.
1882 G. J. Romanes Animal Intelligence xii. 359 It [sc. the hare or rabbit] merely toddles along with the weasel toddling behind, until tamely allowing itself to be overtaken.
1926 D. L. Sayers Clouds of Witness i. 19 My sister and Mrs. Pettigrew-Robinson toddled on up.
?1970 J. Perry & D. Croft Dad's Army: Scripts 4th Ser. Episode 9. 388/2 When I got home, I had the rough end of my governor's tongue, I can tell you. He thought I had toddled off with a bit of fluff.
1992 J. Torrington Swing Hammer Swing! i. 5 Off you toddle, Matthew. I'll catch you up.
1999 Bike Dec. 75/1 Toddle along at 40-odd..squeeze the lever to weight the tyre, then stop as hard as you dare.
2015 Daily Tel. (Nexis) 10 Jan. (Weekend section) 3 Most of us who toddle down to the gym three times a week do not need to be necking supplements.
c. intransitive. figurative. Of a stream: to flow. Of a river: to run slowly, calmly, or meanderingly. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > water > rivers and streams > action of river > flow (of river) [verb (intransitive)]
flowa1000
roil?c1400
resorta1552
rill1621
relate1653
put1670
toddle1773
vent1784
tail1889
1773 [implied in: R. Fergusson Poems 116 Cou'd..todling burns that smoothly play O'er gowden bed, Compare wi' Birks of Indermay? (at toddling adj.)].
1823 J. Kennedy Poems & Songs 98 In simmer drought, the siller rill That todelt neath my pasture hill.
1838 J. Struthers Poet. Tales 78 Owre hagg or hill, Whar Irvine todlin rins alang, A wee bit rill.
1915 J. H. B. Browne On staying at Home 22 Here the Annan begins to flow to the Solway, just as on the other side of these pent-house hills the Tweed went toddling to the North Sea.
1998 A. Kotlowitz Other Side of River xxv. 231 Even then, at its swiftest, the river toddles along; a series of riffles in a small stream is moving three to four times as fast.
3. transitive. To cause to toddle; to convey in a leisurely or unhurried manner. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > progressive motion > walking > walk upon or tread [verb (transitive)] > cause to walk with short unsteady steps
toddle1791
1791 F. Burney Diary 4 June (1842) V. 211 Catching me fast by the arm..she safely toddled me back.
1889 C. Teesdale in Duke of Beaufort et al. Driving (Badminton Libr. of Sports & Pastimes) xvi. 335 Why, if it had been an old lady he had been driving, he would have taken an hour and forty-five minutes toddling her down!
1987 P. Gregory Wideacre xiv. 343 Then he stooped over Julia and set her on her feet, and toddled her round to the stable yard.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > action of boiling > boil [verb (intransitive)] > with bubbling or agitation > gently
toddle1806
1806 A. Douglas Poems 67 A junt o' beef, baith fat and fresh, Aft in your pat be todlin!
1927 ‘H. McDiarmid’ Lucky Bag 3 Till guid meat toddles in the pot And supper's on the way.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2016; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.?1800
v.?a1513