different between toddle vs mosey

English

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -?d?l

Etymology

Of unknown origin. Possibly a byform of totter.

Verb

toddle (third-person singular simple present toddles, present participle toddling, simple past and past participle toddled)

1. To walk unsteadily, as a small child does.
2. To walk in a carefree manner.

   There he was, just toddling along.

Synonyms

• totter

Derived terms

• toddler
• toddle off

Translations

Noun

toddle (plural toddles)

1. A carefree or aimless gait; a stroll.

References

Anagrams

• dolted

English

Alternative forms

• mosy, mozey, mozy

Etymology

Unknown. Originally attested in Southern US dialects. Suggested origins include:

• Spanish vamos (compare vamoose)
• British dialectal mose about (“walk around stupidly”)
• an Algonquian term for "walk" (compare Ojibwe bimose (“she or he walks along”))

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /?mo?.zi/

Verb

mosey (third-person singular simple present moseys, present participle moseying, simple past and past participle moseyed)

1. (chiefly US, dialectal) To set off, get going; to start a journey.
   • 1910, Lucy Maud Montgomery, Kilmeny of the Orchard, chapter 1:

     Haven't got time. I must mosey up to the North End to see a man who has got a lovely throat. Nobody can find out what is the matter. He has puzzled all the doctors.

2. (chiefly US, dialectal) To go off quickly: to hurry up.
3. (chiefly US, dialectal) To amble; to walk or proceed in a leisurely manner.
   • 1919, William MacLeod Raine, A Man Four-Square, chapter 6:

     We'll mosey along toward the river. Kinder take it easy an' drift the herd down slow so as to let the cattle put on flesh.

Translations

Usage notes

• Associated especially with the dialect of the Old West.

Anagrams

• Moyes, Moyse