dawdler

verb (used without object)

to waste time; idle; trifle; loiter: Stop dawdling and help me with these packages!

to move slowly, languidly, or dilatorily; saunter.

verb (used with object)

to waste (time) by or as if by trifling (usually followed by away ): He dawdled away the whole morning.

Origin:
1650–60; variant of daddle to toddle

Related forms

daw·dler, 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. 2013.
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World English Dictionary

dawdle (ˈdɔːd^əl)

—vb (when tr, often foll by away)
1.	(intr) to be slow or lag behind
2.	to waste (time); trifle

[C17: of uncertain origin]

'dawdler

—n

'dawdlingly

—*adv*

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dawdle (ˈdɔːd^əl)

—vb (when tr, often foll by away)
1.	(intr) to be slow or lag behind
2.	to waste (time); trifle

[C17: of uncertain origin]

'dawdler

—n

'dawdlingly

—*adv*

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Etymonline

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.

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