hiddle

English

Alternative forms

• hidel, hidle
• hiddil, heddle, hydle
• hidels, hydles

Etymology

From Middle English hidel, hydel, an alteration, due to final s mistaken for the plural ending, of Middle English hidils, hudels (“hiding-place, concealment”), from Old English hȳdels (“a place of concealment, hiding-place, cavern, cave”), equivalent to hide +‎ -le. For loss of final s compare burial, riddle. More at hide, huddle.

Noun

hiddle (plural hiddles)

1. (now chiefly dialectal) A hiding-place; a sheltered spot.
2. (now chiefly dialectal, Scotland) A cluster, small group of buildings, etc. set close together; a huddle.

Derived terms

• but hidel
• hidel-like
• in hidel

Related terms

• hide
• hideling

Verb

1. (transitive, UK dialectal, Scotland) To hide; conceal.
2. (intransitive, UK dialectal, Scotland) To nestle closely; take shelter.
3. (transitive, UK dialectal, Scotland) To shelter (in one's arms).

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Scots

Alternative forms

• hiddil, hidle, heddle

Etymology

From Early Scots hidlis (“hiding places”), from hiddil (“concealment”), from Middle English hidels.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈhɪˌdʌl/

Noun

hiddle (plural hiddles)

1. A hiding place or shelter.

Adverb

hiddle (comparative mair hiddle, superlative maist hiddle)

1. In a mysterious fashion.

Verb

hiddle (third-person singular simple present hiddles, present participle hiddlin, simple past hiddlet, past participle hiddlet)

1. To hide or conceal.
2. To take shelter or nestle closely.