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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1976 (SND Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

WIDDLE, v., n. Also widdil, wuddle; misprinted widdie (Sc. 1896 A. Cheviot Proverbs 368). [wɪdl]

I. v. 1. To walk slowly, unsteadily, and with difficulty, to stumble, stagger, totter, waddle (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.; Sh., Ork., Slg. 1974). Reduplic. form widdle-waddle, id. (Cld. 1882 Jam.).Lnk. a.1779 D. Graham Writings (1883) II. 9:
My father he's ay wandering about, and widdling amang the beasts.m.Lth. 1870 J. Lauder Warblings 41:
But since they brought me to this byre, To widdle to my paps in mire.Ayr. 1913 J. Service Memorables 65:
The short October day had dookit doon to the darkening as we widdled in by the Clachan o' the 'Shaws.

2. To shake, tremble, wobble about.Ags. 1930 A. Kennedy Orra Boughs xxv.:
It was only on his guid days that the puir doitit auld man could find a meanin' tae their [his hands] widdlin'.

3. Freq. with advs. awa, on, throu: to progress slowly and laboriously; to plod on, struggle to attain some end by constant efforts (Sc. 1825 Jam.; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., Rxb. 1974); to manage, get along as best one can. Also in n.Eng. dial. Ppl.adj. wuddlin, laboriously painstaking, plodding.Ayr. 1789 D. Sillar Poems 150:
But gif this canna weel be done, E'en let the bodies widdle on.Sc. 1825 Jam.:
He's made a hantle siller in his sma' way o' doing; he's a bit wuddling bodie.Ayr. 1833 J. Kennedy G. Chalmers 78:
It's wonderful to see hoo some wuddle awa.Fif. 1864 W. D. Latto T. Bodkin xxvi.:
Hoo I'm to widdle through withoot her.Lnk. 1895 W. Stewart Lilts 40:
To widdle through an' fecht alane this warld's weary fecht.Abd. 1905 Banffshire Jnl. (18 April) 7:
A cheerie brick, who didna widdle Wi' care or sorra.Rxb. 1927 E. C. Smith Braid Haaick 24:
She'd mony a hatter, puir craitir, bit she wuddlt an brocht thae bairns up rael faisable, for aa.

†4. To strive, contend, quarrel.Sc. 1806 R. Jamieson Pop. Ballads I. 352:
Cald wad be her heart, That coud wi' Johnie widdle.

II. n. 1. A struggle, contention (Sc. 1825 Jam.; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.). Often used metaphorically of life, the struggle for existence, apparently echoing Burns.Ayr. 1786 Burns Ep. to Capt. Logan iii.:
To chear you through the weary widdle, O' this vile warl.Knr. 1825 Jam.:
They had a widdil the-gither.Fif. c.1850 Mod. Sc. Poets (Edwards) V. 337:
She's haen her times o' trouble, mair maybe than her share, A weary, weary widdle, an' ither's lade to bear.Ayr. 1879 J. White Jottings 169:
I'll warsell thro', while hearts ye thrill, Life's weary widdle.Gall. a.1897 R. Ringan's Plewman Cracks 45:
The wearyfu' widdle o' tryin' to mak en's meet.

2. A bustle, stir, hubbub, press of people; a tumult, confusion.Fif. 1827 W. Tennant Papistry 140:
Men wi' pipe and fiddle, That garr'd resound maist a' the widdle, Skrieghin' and screedin' fiddle-diddle.Rxb. 1847 J. Halliday Rustic Bard 326:
This wearifu' world's a wuddle o' care.