tootle

[ toot-l ]
See synonyms for tootle on Thesaurus.com
verb (used without object),too·tled, too·tling.
  1. to toot gently or repeatedly on a flute or the like.

  2. to move or proceed in a leisurely way.

noun
  1. the sound made by tooting on a flute or the like.

Origin of tootle

1
First recorded in 1810–20; toot1 + -le

Other words from tootle

  • tootler, noun

Words Nearby tootle

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use tootle in a sentence

  • Grandfather tootle, the bassoon, spends his time in dozing: all you can hear from him is an occasional snore.

    Bizarre | Lawton Mackall
  • Mrs. tootle, the flute, is of a romantic turn of mind, doting on moonlight and warbling birds and babbling brooks.

    Bizarre | Lawton Mackall
  • Mr tootle is so far figurative, touching the dismemberment, as that he means the boat, and not the man.

    Our Mutual Friend | Charles Dickens
  • But they never tootle now, and never sing, and when they speak, their tongue is that of the unmusical barbarians.

    The Book of the Bush | George Dunderdale
  • A man who lets his sword rust at home while he goes about tootle-de-rooling on a flute!

    The Mortal Gods and Other Plays | Olive Tilford Dargan

British Dictionary definitions for tootle (1 of 2)

tootle1

/ (ˈtuːtəl) /


verb
  1. to toot or hoot softly or repeatedly: the flute tootled quietly

noun
  1. a soft hoot or series of hoots

Origin of tootle

1
C19: from toot 1

Derived forms of tootle

  • tootler, noun

British Dictionary definitions for tootle (2 of 2)

tootle2

/ (ˈtuːtəl) British informal /


verb
  1. (intr) to go, esp by car

noun
  1. a drive, esp a short pleasure trip

Origin of tootle

2
C19: from tootle 1, imitative of the horn of a car

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012