GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English
last match results
Found 3 definitions
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Fiddle , n. [OE. fidele, fithele, AS. fiðele; akin to D. vedel, OHG. fidula, G. fiedel, Icel. fiðla, and perh. to E. viol. Cf. Viol.]
- (Mus.) A stringed instrument of music played with a bow; a violin; a kit.1913 Webster
- (Bot.) A kind of dock (Rumex pulcher) with fiddle-shaped leaves; -- called also fiddle dock.1913 Webster
- (Naut.) A rack or frame of bars connected by strings, to keep table furniture in place on the cabin table in bad weather.Ham. Nav. Encyc.1913 Webster
Fiddle beetle (Zool.), a Japanese carabid beetle (Damaster blaptoides); -- so called from the form of the body. -- Fiddle block (Naut.), a long tackle block having two sheaves of different diameters in the same plane, instead of side by side as in a common double block. Knight. -- Fiddle bow, fiddlestick. -- Fiddle fish (Zool.), the angel fish. -- Fiddle head, See fiddle head in the vocabulary. -- Fiddle pattern, a form of the handles of spoons, forks, etc., somewhat like a violin. -- Scotch fiddle, the itch. (Low) -- To play first fiddle, or To play second fiddle, to take a leading or a subordinate part. [Colloq.]
1913 Webster
- (Mus.) A stringed instrument of music played with a bow; a violin; a kit.
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Fiddle, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Fiddled ; p. pr. & vb. n. Fiddling .]
- To play on a fiddle.1913 Webster
Themistocles . . . said he could not fiddle, but he could make a small town a great city.
Bacon.1913 Webster - To keep the hands and fingers actively moving as a fiddler does; to move the hands and fingers restlessy or in busy idleness; to trifle.1913 Webster
Talking, and fiddling with their hats and feathers.
Pepys.1913 Webster
- To play on a fiddle.
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Fiddle , v. t. To play (a tune) on a fiddle.1913 Webster