I. ˈkid. ə l, ˈkit ə l transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English (northern dialect) kytyllen, probably from Old Norse kitla — more at tickle
1. chiefly Scotland : tickle
2. chiefly Scotland : enliven , titillate
3. chiefly Scotland : to flatter and please
4. chiefly Scotland : to keep guessing : perplex
II. adjective
( -er/-est )
1. chiefly Scotland
a. : easily excited : touchy , skittish , fidgety
b. : quick , apt
she's kittle of her hands — George Meriton
c. : variable , capricious
Fortune will play kittle tricks — John Barr
d. : nicely balanced : delicate
2. chiefly Scotland : hard or risky to deal with or do : ticklish
to paint an angel's kittle work — Robert Burns
it's a kittle thing to keep the likes o' him waitin' — S.R.Crockett
III. intransitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: probably of Scandinavian origin; akin to Norwegian dialect kjetla to kitten, from kjetling kitten, from Old Norse ketlingr — more at kitling
1. chiefly Scotland : kitten
2. chiefly Scotland : generate , arise