English edit

Pronunciation edit

Etymology 1 edit

Probably dade +‎ -le. Compare English doddle.

Alternative forms edit

Verb edit

daddle (third-person singular simple present daddles, present participle daddling, simple past and past participle daddled)

  1. (intransitive, archaic or dialectal) To walk unsteadily; totter; dawdle
    • 1869, Thomas Collins, The life of the rev. Thos. Collins:
      I had to wait an hour at the station for the coming of his train. It was passed pleasantly in reading, ' The Victory Won,' an interesting narrative of the salvation of a sceptical physician. When uncle arrived, he and I daddled along a pretty narrow lane.
  2. To diddle (cheat)
    • 1881–1882, Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island, London, Paris: Cassell & Company, published 14 November 1883, →OCLC:
      "Thunder!" he cried. "A week! I can't do that; they'd have the black spot on me by then. The lubbers is going about to get the wind of me this blessed moment; lubbers as couldn't keep what they got, and want to nail what is another's. Is that seamanly behavior, now, I want to know? But I'm a saving soul. I never wasted good money of mine, nor lost it neither; and I'll trick 'em again. I'm not afraid on 'em. I'll shake out another reef, matey, and daddle 'em again."

Etymology 2 edit

Noun edit

daddle (plural daddles)

  1. (slang, obsolete) The hand or fist; used in the phrase "tip us your daddle" meaning "give me your hand".
Derived terms edit

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