fiddle

1 of 2

noun

fid·​dle ˈfi-dᵊl How to pronounce fiddle (audio)
Synonyms of fiddlenext
1
: violin
2
: a device (such as a slat, rack, or light railing) to keep objects from sliding off a table aboard ship
3
: fiddlesticks
—used as an interjection
4
[fiddle entry 2] chiefly British : swindle

fiddle

2 of 2

verb

fiddled; fiddling ˈfi-dᵊl-iŋ How to pronounce fiddle (audio) ˈfid-liŋ How to pronounce fiddle (audio)

intransitive verb

1
: to play on a fiddle
2
a
: to move the hands or fingers restlessly
b
: to spend time in aimless or fruitless activity : putter, tinker
fiddled around with the engine for hours
c
: meddle, tamper
d
: to make minor manual movements especially to adjust something
fiddled with the radio knobs

transitive verb

1
: to play (something) on a fiddle
fiddle a tune
2
: cheat, swindle
3
: to alter or manipulate deceptively for fraudulent gain
accountants fiddling the books— Stanley Cohen
fiddler
ˈfi-dᵊl-ər How to pronounce fiddle (audio)
ˈfid-lər
noun

Synonyms

Noun

Verb

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of fiddle in a Sentence

Noun an expert with the fiddle arrested for a tax fiddle Verb Nero fiddled while Rome burned. the executive fiddled with a pen as she impatiently waited for the meeting to begin
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
On the way out, Ortiz talked about his aspirations: adding winds and brass to the ensembles; providing more one-on-one instruction; hiring a part-time instrument doctor to bring battered fiddles back to life. — Justin Davidson, Curbed, 13 Mar. 2025 Her soft-focus voice floats over trilling mandolin picking and reserved fiddle. — Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 10 Mar. 2025
Verb
This past summer, Munn posted an adorable video on her Instagram of Malcolm and Mulaney sitting on the couch and fiddling their fingers in the same exact manner. — Hannah Sacks, People.com, 12 Mar. 2025 Bulla gave a veritable master class in bluegrass and Texas-style fiddling, as his Trio performed works ranging from bluegrass legends Bill Monroe and Kenny Baker to Lyle Lovett and Cole Porter. — Del Mar Foundation, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fiddle

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English fithele, fethill, fydel, going back to Old English *fithele (assumed from the derivative fithelere "fiddler"), going back to Germanic *fiþlō- (whence Middle Dutch vedele "stringed instrument," Old High German fidula, fidala, Old Norse fiðla), perhaps of onomatopoeic origin

Note: See note at viol.

Verb

Middle English fithelyn, fydelin, derivative of fithele, fydel fiddle entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of fiddle was in the 13th century

Phrases Containing fiddle

Rhymes for fiddle

See All Rhymes for fiddle

Browse Nearby Words

fiddle
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fiddle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fiddle. Accessed 26 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

fiddle

2 of 2 verb
fiddled; fiddling
ˈfid-liŋ,
-ᵊl-iŋ
1
: to play on a fiddle
2
a
: to move the hands or fingers restlessly
b
: to spend time in aimless activity
c
: meddle, tamper
fiddler
ˈfid-lər How to pronounce fiddle (audio)
-ᵊl-ər
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on fiddle

Nglish: Translation of fiddle for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about fiddle

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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