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dawdle

 - 3 dictionary results

daw⋅dle

  [dawd-l] verb, -dled, -dling.
Use dawdle in a Sentence
–verb (used without object)
1. to waste time; idle; trifle; loiter: Stop dawdling and help me with these packages!
2. to move slowly, languidly, or dilatorily; saunter.
–verb (used with object)
3. to waste (time) by or as if by trifling (usually fol. by away): He dawdled away the whole morning.
Origin:
1650–60; var. of daddle to toddle

Related forms:
dawdler, noun
daw⋅dling⋅ly, adverb

Synonyms:
1, 2. See loiter. 3. fritter, putter, idle, trifle.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To dawdle
daw·dle   (dôd'l)   
v.   daw·dled, daw·dling, daw·dles

v.   intr.

  1. To take more time than necessary: dawdled through breakfast.

  2. To move aimlessly or lackadaisically: dawdling on the way to work.

v.   tr.
To waste (time) by idling: dawdling the hours away.

[Perhaps alteration of dialectal daddle, to diddle.]
daw'dler n., daw'dling·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

dawdle 
c.1656, perhaps a variant of daddle "to walk unsteadily." Perhaps influenced by daw, since the bird was regarded as sluggish and silly. Not in general use until c.1775.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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