WORD OF THE DAY: DADDLE

​​DADDLE
 
NOUN
n. 1. a hand or fist
- 1725 Eng. dial. & sl., arch. 

n. 2. gait
- 20C Irish sl. 

VERB
vb. 1. to be slow in motion or action; to dawdle; to idle, to trifle, to waste time; to potter about; to saunter
- 1673 colloq., later Sc. & Eng. dial. 

vb. 2. to walk totteringly or unsteadily, like a child; to stagger; to walk with short steps, as a small child or an infirm person
1710 obs. exc. Eng. dial. 

vb. 3. of a prostitute: to walk the streets
- 1825 Sc. obs. 

vb. 4. to cheat, to trick, to swindle
- 1883 rare 

vb. 5. to enjoy lesbian sex; the implication is of mutual masturbation
- 19C sl. 

vb. 6. to trouble, bother, annoy, worry
- Bk1900 Eng. dial. 
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ETYMOLOGY
of unknown origin
(vb. 4. - possibly a variation of 'diddle' (to cheat or swindle))
 
FIRST DOCUMENTED USE
1673 (see vb. 1) - see EXAMPLE below

EXAMPLE
"...When I and my Bride [went to] bed, on my wedding-day at night,
My fancies with pleasure she fed, for I had my full delight.
​She [could teach in] Venus's school, and with me she did daddle;
But I, a young puny fool, [knew nothing of curb or] saddle....."
From: Mirth for Citizens; Or, A Comedy for the Country
- A. Miles
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