fiddle

Noun · Verb
Synonyms: violinshirkshrink fromgoldbricktoydiddleplaytampermonkeytinker

WordNet 3.0

Noun (1)

  1. bowed stringed instrument that is the highest member of the violin family; this instrument has four strings and a hollow body and an unfretted fingerboard and is played with a bowSynonyms: violin

Verb (7)

  1. avoid (one's assigned duties)“The derelict soldier shirked his duties”Synonyms: shirkshrink fromgoldbrick
  2. commit fraud and steal from one's employer“We found out that she had been fiddling for years”
  3. play the violin or fiddle
  4. play on a violin“Zuckerman fiddled that song very nicely”
  5. manipulate manually or in one's mind or imagination“She played nervously with her wedding ring”“Don't fiddle with the screws”“He played with the idea of running for the Senate”Synonyms: toydiddleplay
  6. play around with or alter or falsify, usually secretively or dishonestly“Someone tampered with the documents on my desk”“The reporter fiddle with the facts”Synonyms: tampermonkey
  7. try to fix or mend“Can you tinker with the T.V. set--it's not working right”“She always fiddles with her van on the weekend”Synonyms: tinker
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Fiddle \Fid"dle\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Fiddled; p. pr. & vb. n. Fiddling.]

1.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]

2.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]
Fiddle \Fid"dle\ (f[i^]d"d'l), n. [OE. fidele, fithele, AS. fi[eth]ele; akin to D. vedel, OHG. fidula, G. fiedel, Icel. fi[eth]la, and perh. to E. viol. Cf. Viol.]

1.(Mus.) A stringed instrument of music played with a bow; a violin; a kit. [1913 Webster]

2.(Bot.) A kind of dock (Rumex pulcher) with fiddle-shaped leaves; -- called also fiddle dock. [1913 Webster]

3.(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]

Fiddle \Fid"dle\, v. t. To play (a tune) on a fiddle. [1913 Webster]

The Devil's Dictionary

FIDDLE, n. An instrument to tickle human ears by friction of a horse's tail on the entrails of a cat.

To Rome said Nero: "If to smoke you turn I shall not cease to fiddle while you burn." To Nero Rome replied: "Pray do your worst, 'Tis my excuse that you were fiddling first." Orm Pludge

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