1552, "to cut thin shavings from (something) with a knife," from M.E. whittel "a knife" (1404), variant of thwittle (1390), from O.E. þwitan "to cut," from P.Gmc. *thwitanan (cf. O.N. þveita "to hew"). Fig. sense is attested from 1746.
Whittle (wĭt'l) Pronunciation Key
British aeronautical engineer and inventor who developed the first aircraft engine powered by jet propulsion in 1937.
[hwit-l, wit-l] 
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