English
Hyphenation
:fid�dle
Pronunciation
IPA|/�fɪ.dl̩/
Rhymes: Rhymes:English:-ɪd�l|-ɪd�l
Etymology
From Middle English fithele, from OE. fiðele. Cognate with Old High German fidula (German Fiedel), Old Norse fiðla (Icelandic fiðla, Danish fiddel, Norwegian fela#Norwegian|fela), Middle Dutch vedele (Dutch veel, vedel).
The ultimate source of the word is unknown. Some argue that the similarity in Germanic variations can be explained by adoption and subsequent corruption of a contemporary Latin word, vitula or vidula. This is known to have occurred with the Romance languages eg. viol or viola in French, Portuguese, Italian and Spanish. Others argue that the Germanic words have a uniquely Teutonic origin, but no earlier forms have been found.
Noun
en-noun
- context|music The violin when played in any of various traditional styles, as opposed to classical violin.
#: When I play it like this, it's a fiddle; when I play it like that, it's a violin.
- An adjustment intended to cover up a basic flaw.
#: That parameter setting is just a fiddle to make the lighting look right.
- fraud
- context|nautical On board a ship or boat, a rail or batten around the edge of a table or stove to prevent objects falling off at sea. (Also fiddle rail)
Synonyms
(the instrument): violin
Derived terms
top2
fiddle brake
fiddle factor
fiddle-faddle
mid2
fiddly
first fiddle
lead fiddle
second fiddle
Verb
en-verb|fiddl|ing
- To play aimlessly.
#: You're fiddling your life away.
- To adjust in order to cover a basic flaw or fraud etc.
#: I needed to fiddle the lighting parameters to get the image to look right.
#: Fred was sacked when the auditors caught him fiddling the books.
- context|music To play traditional tunes on a violin using the aforementioned styles.
Synonyms
(to adjust in order to cover a basic flaw): fudge
Derived terms
top2
fiddle about
fiddle around
fiddle the books
mid2
fiddle with
fiddler
See also
fritter
Category:Musical instruments
el:fiddle
fr:fiddle
io:fiddle
ru:fiddle
fi:fiddle
te:fiddle
vi:fiddle
zh:fiddle
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