fiddle

1 of 2

noun

fid·​dle ˈfi-dᵊl How to pronounce fiddle (audio)
1
: violin
2
: a device (such as a slat, rack, or light railing) to keep objects from sliding off a table aboard ship
3
: fiddlesticks
used as an interjection
4
[fiddle entry 2] chiefly British : swindle

fiddle

2 of 2

verb

fiddled; fiddling ˈfi-dᵊl-iŋ How to pronounce fiddle (audio) ˈfid-liŋ How to pronounce fiddle (audio)

intransitive verb

1
: to play on a fiddle
2
a
: to move the hands or fingers restlessly
b
: to spend time in aimless or fruitless activity : putter, tinker
fiddled around with the engine for hours
c
d
: to make minor manual movements especially to adjust something
fiddled with the radio knobs

transitive verb

1
: to play (something) on a fiddle
fiddle a tune
2
3
: to alter or manipulate deceptively for fraudulent gain
accountants fiddling the booksStanley Cohen
fiddler
ˈfi-dᵊl-ər How to pronounce fiddle (audio)
ˈfid-lər
noun

Examples of fiddle in a Sentence

Noun an expert with the fiddle arrested for a tax fiddle Verb Nero fiddled while Rome burned. the executive fiddled with a pen as she impatiently waited for the meeting to begin
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Curiosity Spot, aimed at children up to 9 years old but not age-restricted, will include a 15-foot-long immersive kaleidoscope structure, interactive self-portrait creation exhibit, and a science and art exhibit where children can build and play fiddles. Bill Bowden, arkansasonline.com, 23 Oct. 2024 However, competitive advantage plays the first fiddle in terms of both business and technological strategies. Cloris Chen, Forbes, 14 Oct. 2024
Verb
Mandolin playing from Charlie Worsham and fiddle work from Tim Hayes serve to further heighten the song’s Western sound. Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 23 Sep. 2024 Some see this as a new version of the apocryphal story of Nero fiddling while Rome burns. John Cherwa, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for fiddle 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fiddle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English fithele, fethill, fydel, going back to Old English *fithele (assumed from the derivative fithelere "fiddler"), going back to Germanic *fiþlō- (whence Middle Dutch vedele "stringed instrument," Old High German fidula, fidala, Old Norse fiðla), perhaps of onomatopoeic origin

Note: See note at viol.

Verb

Middle English fithelyn, fydelin, derivative of fithele, fydel fiddle entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of fiddle was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near fiddle

Cite this Entry

“Fiddle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fiddle. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

fiddle

1 of 2 noun
fid·​dle ˈfid-ᵊl How to pronounce fiddle (audio)

fiddle

2 of 2 verb
fiddled; fiddling
ˈfid-liŋ,
-ᵊl-iŋ
1
: to play on a fiddle
2
a
: to move the hands or fingers restlessly
b
: to spend time in aimless activity
c
fiddler
ˈfid-lər How to pronounce fiddle (audio)
-ᵊl-ər
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on fiddle

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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