different between peddle vs piddle

English

Etymology

Back-formation from pedlar. (Compare burgle from burglar.)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?p?d?l/
• Rhymes: -?d?l
• Homophones: pedal, petal (some dialects)

Verb

peddle (third-person singular simple present peddles, present participle peddling, simple past and past participle peddled)

1. To sell things, especially door to door or in insignificant quantities.
2. To sell illegal narcotics.
3. (derogatory, figuratively) To spread or cause to spread.
   • 2009, Michael John Beashel, Unshackled (page 166)

     Christine walked a dangerous line, peddling gossip about her detested son-in-law.

   • 2012, Niamh O'Connor, Taken (page 166)

     Roberts was a drug dealer, nicknamed 'King Krud', who peddled death and misery.

Related terms

• peddler, pedlar
• peddling

Translations

English

Alternative forms

• (obsolete): piddel, pidle

Etymology

Unknown, although possibly originally paw + -le (“forming verbs involving continuous or repeated movement”). In later use, a euphemistic diminutive of piss. The noun derives from the verb.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?p?dl/
• (US) IPA^(key): /?p?d?l/, /?p?dl/
• Rhymes: -?dl, -?d?l

Noun

piddle (plural piddles)

1. (Britain, Australia, euphemistic slang) Piss: urine.
   • 1870, Cythera's Hymnal, p. 77:

     The spunk with his piddle comes bubbling.

2. (Britain, Australia, euphemistic slang) A piss: an act of urination.
   • 1937, Eric Honeywood Partridge, A Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English, p. 625:

     Piddle, urine; occ. the act of making water.

3. (Britain, figuratively) Nonsense or a trivial matter.
   • 1910 March 2, Rupert Brooke, letter:

     It's the alteration of the little words that makes all the difference between Poetry & piddle.

Synonyms

• (urine): widdle, see also Thesaurus:urine
• (urination): widdle, see also Thesaurus:urination

Verb

piddle (third-person singular simple present piddles, present participle piddling, simple past and past participle piddled)

1. (intransitive) Often followed by about or around: to act or work ineffectually and wastefully.
2. (intransitive, obsolete) Synonym of peck: to attack or eat with a beak.
   • 1598, Richard Barckley, A Discourse of the Felicitie of Man..., p. 217:

     As [Mahomet] was preaching... there commeth a doue flying towards him, & alighteth vpon his shoulder, and pidleth in his eare, looking for meate, hauing vsed her before to feede in his eare for the same purpose.

3. (intransitive, now South US, often with 'with') Synonym of nibble: to pick at or toy with one's food, to eat slowly or insubstantially.
   • a. 1620, Jeremiah Dyke, Diuers Select Sermons on Seuerall Texts..., p. 292:

     Diseases... that make them eate nothing at all, or else they doe but piddle and trifle.

   • 2000 May 9, Myrtle Beach Sun-News, Sect. A, p. 1:

     As about seven seniors quietly eat meat patties, mashed potatoes and canned peaches, Newberry piddles with the food.

4. (Britain, Australia, South Africa, Namibia, euphemistic slang, intransitive or reflexive) To urinate.
   • 1784, cited in Catalogue of Prints and Drawings in the British Museum, Vol. VI, p. 128:

     Ha, ha, ha, Paddy shit in his breaches, ha, ha, ha, I shall laugh till I piddle myself.

Synonyms

• (urinate): widdle, see also Thesaurus:urinate

Derived terms

• piddling, piddly, piddle away

Related terms

• pightle
• widdle

References

• “piddle, v.”, in OED Online ?, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, 2006
• “piddle, n.”, in OED Online ?, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, 2006