niggle

English

Etymology

First attested in 1599. Origin uncertain, but likely from Old Norse nigla and/or nugla. Possibly cognate to niggard.

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ɪɡəl

Noun

niggle (plural niggles)

1. A minor complaint or problem.
2. (obsolete) Small, cramped handwriting.

Verb

niggle (third-person singular simple present niggles, present participle niggling, simple past and past participle niggled)

1. To trifle with; to deceive; to mock.
2. To dwell too much on minor points.
3. To fidget, fiddle, be restless.

Derived terms

• niggly

Translations

to trifle, to deceive, to mock

to dwell too much on minor points

Finnish: niuhottaa (fi) Hungarian: akadékoskodik (hu), kukacoskodik (hu), kötekedik (hu), szőröz (hu)

to fidget, to fiddle, to be restless

Dutch: peuteren (nl), frunniken (nl)

Hungarian: izeg-mozog (hu), mocorog (hu), fészkelődik (hu)

Anagrams

• leggin