FIDDLE

I. noun Etymology: Middle English fidel, from Old English *fithele, probably from Medieval Latin vitula Date: 13th century violin , a device (as a slat, rack, or light railing) to keep objects from sliding off a table aboard ship, ~sticks, swindle , II. verb (~d; fiddling) Date: 14th century intransitive verb to play on a ~, 2. to move the hands or fingers restlessly, to spend time in aimless or fruitless activity ; putter , tinker , meddle , tamper , to make minor manual movements especially to adjust something , transitive verb to play (as a tune) on a ~, cheat , swindle , to alter or manipulate deceptively for fraudulent gain , ~r noun