whittle
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About Our Definitions: All forms of a word (noun, verb, etc.) are now displayed on one page.1whit·tle
noun \ˈhwi-təl, ˈwi-\Definition of WHITTLE
archaic : a large knife
Origin of WHITTLE
Middle English whittel, alteration of thwitel, from thwiten to whittle, from Old English thwītan; akin to Old Norse thveita to hew
First Known Use: 15th century
2whittle
verbwhit·tledwhit·tling \ˈhwit-liŋ, ˈwit-; ˈhwi-təl-iŋ, ˈwi-\
Definition of WHITTLE
transitive verb
1
a : to pare or cut off chips from the surface of (wood) with a knife b : to shape or form by so paring or cutting
2
: to reduce, remove, or destroy gradually as if by cutting off bits with a knife : pare <whittle down expenses>
intransitive verb
1
: to cut or shape something (as wood) by or as if by paring it with a knife
2
: to wear oneself or another out with fretting
— whit·tler \ˈhwit-lər, ˈwit-; ˈhwi-təl-ər, ˈwi-\ noun
See Examples of WHITTLE
- He was sitting on the porch, whittling a stick.
- She whittled a walking stick from a maple tree branch.
First Known Use of WHITTLE
1552
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