/ ˈwɪtl; NAmE / verb
[ vn ] whittle A (from B) | whittle B (into A) to form a piece of wood, etc. into a particular shape by cutting small pieces from it :
He whittled a simple toy from the piece of wood.
He whittled the piece of wood into a simple toy.
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- whittle sth away
- whittle sth down
••
WORD ORIGIN
mid 16th cent.: from dialect whittle knife .