Fiddle Definition
fĭdl
fiddled, fiddles, fiddling
noun
fiddles
A violin, especially one used to play folk or country music.
American Heritage
Any stringed instrument played with a bow, esp. the violin.
Webster's New World
A petty swindle.
Webster's New World
A frame or railing on a ship's table to keep dishes, etc. from sliding off in rough weather.
Webster's New World
Nonsensical, trifling matters.
American Heritage
Synonyms:
- violin
- strong
- healthy
- cornstalk fiddle
- stringed-instrument
- sound
verb
fiddled, fiddles, fiddling
To play a fiddle.
Webster's New World
To play or tinker (with), esp. in a nervous way.
Webster's New World
To swindle in a petty way.
Webster's New World
To make unskilled efforts at repairing or improving.
Fiddled with the broken toaster.
American Heritage
To play (a tune) on a fiddle.
Webster's New World
idiom
fiddle around
- to pass time aimlessly
Webster's New World
fiddle away
- to waste (time)
Webster's New World
fit as a fiddle
- in excellent health; physically fit
Webster's New World
Idioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Fiddle
Origin of Fiddle
From Middle English fithele, from Old English fiðele. Cognate with Old High German fidula (German Fiedel), Old Norse fiðla (Icelandic fiðla, Danish fiddel, Norwegian fela), Middle Dutch vedele (Dutch veel, vedel).
From Wiktionary
Middle English fidle from Old English fithele
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
Fiddle Is Also Mentioned In
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