Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “tiddle” come from?

tiddle (English) comes from English tidder, from Middle English tidren, from Old English tīdrian, from Proto-Germanic tūdrijaną, from Proto-Germanic tūdrijaz, from Proto-Indo-European der- — to split, to separate; to tear, to crack, to...

tiddle (English): To treat with tenderness; to fondle; To potter...

Definitions

  1. To treat with tenderness; to fondle; To potter...

Ancestry of “tiddle”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishtidderTo treat with tenderness; fondle
2Middle Englishtidren—
3Old Englishtīdrian—
4Proto-Germanictūdrijanąto become brittle or weak; exhaust
5Proto-Germanictūdrijazsmall, frail; brittle; weak; exhausted
6Proto-Indo-Europeander-to split, to separate; to tear, to crack, to...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European der- →