I. ˈhwi-t ə l, ˈwi- noun
Etymology: Middle English whittel, alteration of thwitel, from thwiten to whittle, from Old English thwītan; akin to Old Norse thveita to hew
Date: 15th century
archaic : a large knife
II. verb
( whit·tled ; whit·tling ˈhwit-liŋ, ˈwit-; ˈhwi-t ə l-iŋ, ˈwi-)
Date: 1552
transitive verb
1.
a. : to pare or cut off chips from the surface of (wood) with a knife
b. : to shape or form by so paring or cutting
2. : to reduce, remove, or destroy gradually as if by cutting off bits with a knife : pare
whittle down expenses
intransitive verb
1. : to cut or shape something (as wood) by or as if by paring it with a knife
2. : to wear oneself or another out with fretting
• whit·tler ˈhwit-lər, ˈwit-; ˈhwi-t ə l-ər, ˈwi- noun