I. ˈfid ə l noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English fithele, fidel, from Old English fithele, probably from Medieval Latin vitula, perhaps from Latin vitulari to celebrate, be joyful
1. : a bowed stringed instrument:
a. : a folk instrument used especially to accompany dancing
the sound of the fiddle on the village green
b. : violin
c. : an instrument that resembles the violin
a gourd fiddle
2. : fiddler
3. : a flat restraining surface (as a slat, rack, or light railing of cords on shipboard to keep dishes from sliding off a cabin table during rough weather)
4. : fiddlesticks
II. verb
( fiddled ; fiddled ; fiddling -d( ə )liŋ ; fiddles )
Etymology: Middle English fithelen, fidelen, from fithele, fidel, n.
intransitive verb
1. : to play on a fiddle
2.
a. : to keep the hands or fingers moving nervously — usually used with with
fiddle about with his tie
b. : to work aimlessly, fruitlessly, or pointlessly : tinker — usually used with with
fiddled around with the engine for hours
c. : meddle , tamper — usually used with with
a back window broken out or a door lock fiddled with — MacKinlay Kantor
transitive verb
1. : to play (as a tune) on a fiddle
2. : cheat , swindle
III. transitive verb
: to alter or manipulate fraudulently
accountants fiddling the books — Stanley Cohen
IV. noun
Etymology: fiddle , verb (herein)
: swindle