Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

kittle

verb
kit·​tle | \ ˈki-tᵊl How to pronounce kittle (audio) \
kittled; kittling\ ˈkit-​liŋ How to pronounce kittling (audio) , ˈki-​tᵊl-​iŋ \

Definition of kittle

 (Entry 1 of 2)

transitive verb

1 chiefly Scotland : tickle
2 chiefly Scotland : perplex

kittle

adjective

Definition of kittle (Entry 2 of 2)

chiefly Scotland
: ticklish, touchy

First Known Use of kittle

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1568, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for kittle

Verb

Middle English (northern dialect) kytyllen

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about kittle

Statistics for kittle

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for kittle

The first known use of kittle was before the 12th century

See more words from the same century

More from Merriam-Webster on kittle

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with kittle

Comments on kittle

What made you want to look up kittle? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

apposite

Listen to the pronounciation of apposite

highly pertinent or appropriate

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Challenging Vocabulary Quiz Returns!

  • stylized drawing of woman pole vaulting across gap to get trophy
  • Which is a synonym of fuliginous?
Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

TAKE THE QUIZ
Word Winder's CrossWinder

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games