/ ˈpedl; NAmE / verb [ vn ]
1.
to try to sell goods by going from house to house or from place to place :
He worked as a door-to-door salesman peddling cloths and brushes.
to peddle illegal drugs
2.
to spread an idea or story in order to get people to accept it :
to peddle malicious gossip
This line (= publicly stated opinion) is being peddled by all the government spokesmen.
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WORD ORIGIN
early 16th cent.: back-formation from pedlar .