tiddlywinks

noun

tid·​dly·​winks ˈti-dᵊl-ē-ˌwiŋ(k)s How to pronounce tiddlywinks (audio)
ˈtid-lē-
variants or less commonly tiddledywinks
plural in form but singular in construction
: a game whose object is to snap small disks from a flat surface into a small container

Examples of tiddlywinks in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web If esports makes it into the Olympics, what would be next — tiddlywinks, checkers, chess? Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tiddlywinks.' 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

probably from English dialect tiddly little, alteration of little

First Known Use

1857, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tiddlywinks was in 1857

Dictionary Entries Near tiddlywinks

Cite this Entry

“Tiddlywinks.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tiddlywinks. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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