fafflev.
dialect.
a. To stutter or stammer; to utter incoherent sounds.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > defective or inarticulate speech > speak inarticulately or with a defect [verb (intransitive)] > stammer or speak hesitantly
stammerc1000
wlaffe1025
stotec1325
humc1374
mafflea1387
stut1388
rattlea1398
famble14..
mammera1425
drotec1440
falterc1440
stackerc1440
hem1470
wallowa1475
tattle1481
mant1506
happer1519
trip1526
hobblea1529
hack1553
stagger1565
faffle1570
stutter1570
hem and hawk1588
ha1604
hammer1619
titubate1623
haw1632
fork1652
hacker1652
lispc1680
hesitate1706
balbutiate1731
haffle1790
hotter1828
stutter1831
ah1853
catch1889
1570 P. Levens Manipulus Vocabulorum sig. Aiii v/2 To Faffle, balbutire.
1570 P. Levens Manipulus Vocabulorum sig. Kiv v/2 Faffil.
1574 J. Baret Aluearie F 16 To Faffle, or stammer. Balbutio.
1781 in J. Hutton Tour to Caves Gloss. Faffle, to be inconsistent in speech.
1869 J. C. Atkinson Peacock's Gloss. Dial. Hundred of Lonsdale (at cited word). Faffle, to be inconsiderate in speech.
b. To saunter; to fumble.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > progressive motion > walking > walk, tread, or step [verb (intransitive)] > leisurely or carelessly
lop1587
dander?1590
dandle?1590
lolla1657
saunter1671
sidle1697
sail1699
toddle1726
lollop1745
to loll it1796
waltz1862
faffle1869
flane1876
the world > action or operation > ability > inability > unskilfulness > do something unskilfully [verb (intransitive)] > act clumsily > use hands clumsily
fumble1534
faffle1869
1869 J. C. Atkinson Peacock's Gloss. Dial. Hundred of Lonsdale (at cited word). Faffle, to saunter, to fumble.
c. Of a sail: to flap idly in the wind.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in specific manner > irregular movement or agitation > move irregularly or be agitated [verb (intransitive)] > flap loosely
wapc1400
flaffa1522
flap1529
flip-flap1599
flop1602
flasker1689
wamfle1808
wallop1822
flacket1823
flapper1835
swap1884
slat1889
faffle1951
1951 W. H. Auden Nones (1952) 21 Impassive, cloaked and great on Horseback under his faffling flag.
d. = faff v.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > excitement > nervous excitement > be in state of nervous excitement [verb (intransitive)]
to take ona1450
seethe1609
trepidate1623
to take on oneself1632
flutter1668
pother1715
to be upon the nettle (also in a nettle)1723
to be nerve all over1778
to be all nerve1819
to be (all) on wires1824
to break up1825
to carry on1828
to be on (occasionally upon or on the) edge1872
faff1874
to have kittens1900
flap1910
to be in, get in(to), a flap1939
to go sparec1942
to keep (also blow, lose) one's cool1964
faffle1965
to get one's knickers in a twist1971
to have a canary1971
to wet one's pants1979
tweak1981
1965 M. Frayn Tin Men xxi. 113 Faffling away at whatever it was she faffled away at.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1894; most recently modified version published online March 2021).
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v.1570- there's
- there's a good time coming
- there's a sucker born every minute
- there's a thing
- there's always tomorrow
- there's gold in them there frequently thar hills
- there's gold in them there hills
- there's gratitude for you
- there's life in the old dog yet
- there's many a slip between cup and lip
- there's my thumb
- there's no business like show business
- there's no fool like an old fool
- there's no love lost between etc
- there's no love lost between them
- there's no love lost between us
- there's no place like home
- there's no telling
- there's not much misses etc
- there's not much misses someone
- there's not much misses someone's eyes
- there's nothing funny about
- there's nowt so queer as folk
- there's one born every minute
- there's plenty more where that came from