Dictionary Thesaurus Word Dynamo Quotes Reference Translator Spanish

peddling

[ped-ling]

Origin

adjective

trifling; paltry; piddling.

Origin:
1590–1600; peddle + -ing²

Related forms

ped·dling·ly, adverb

:10

:09

:08

:07

:06

:05

:04

:03

:02

:01

Peddling is always a great word to know.

So is gobo. Does it mean:

a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes.

a screen or mat covered with a dark material for shielding a camera lens from excess light or glare.

LEARN MORE UNUSUAL WORDS WITH WORD DYNAMO...

Dictionary.com Unabridged

verb (used with object)

to carry (small articles, goods, wares, etc.) from place to place for sale at retail; hawk.

to deal out, distribute, or dispense, especially in small quantities: to peddle radical ideas.

to sell (drugs) illicitly.

verb (used without object)

to go from place to place with goods, wares, etc., for sale at retail.

to occupy oneself with trifles; trifle.

Origin:
1525–35; apparently back formation from peddler; in def. 4, reinforced by piddle

Related forms

re·ped·dle, verb (used with object), -dled, -dling.

un·ped·dled, adjective

Can be confused: pedal, peddle, petal.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source

Link To peddling

Etymonline

Word Origin & History

peddle

"to retail," 1837, colloquial back formation from peddler.

Word Dynamo By Dictionary.com

Searching for peddling?
How many words do you actually know?

FIND OUT

Related Words

bumboat

influence peddler

Matching Quote

"There were many vessels, like gulls, skimming over the surface of the sea, now half concealed in its troughs, their dolphin- strikers plowing the water, now tossed on the top of the billows.... Some of these vessels lagged behind, while others steadily went ahead. We narrowly watched their rig and the cut of their jibs, and how they walked the water, for there was all the difference between them that there is between living creatures. But we wondered that they should be remembering Boston and New York and Liverpool, steering for them, out there; as if the sailor might forget his peddling business on such a grand highway. They had perchance brought oranges from the Western Isles; and were they carrying back the peel? We might as well transport our old traps across the ocean of eternity. Is that but another "trading flood," with its blessed isles? Is Heaven such a harbor as the Liverpool docks?"

-Henry David Thoreau

Partners:Word Bloglines Citysearch The Daily Beast Ask Answers Ask Kids Life123 Sendori Thesaurus

About Privacy Policy Terms of Use API Careers Advertise with Us Contact Us Help