piddlern.
/ˈpɪdl̩ə/, /ˈpɪdlə/, U.S. /ˈpɪd(ə)lər/ colloquial. derogatory.
A person who engages ineffectually or superficially in an occupation or pastime; a dilettante.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > worker > worker according to manner of working > [noun] > slow or ineffectual
piddler1602
slobberer1787
go-slower1920
ghost payroller1952
the world > action or operation > inaction > idleness, lack of occupation or activity > [noun] > trifling activity or time-wasting > one who
musardc1330
tifflerc1535
dalliera1568
pingler1578
puddlera1585
wag-wanton1601
fiddle-faddle1602
piddler1602
pedlara1625
potterer1837
frivolist1884
frivoller1889
tiddlywinker1893
muck-about1933
1602 T. Dekker Blurt Master-Constable sig. C4 This Flaxen hayr'd men are such pu-lers, and such pidlers.
1646 N. Barnet Regenerate Mans Growth in Grace 42 We are but Pidlers in his service, we can do nothing to any purpose.
1730 M. Concanen Speculatist 39 The Disgrace which Poetry lies under at present is in great Measure owing to those Piddlers in it.
1779 J. Lovell Let. 28 Sept. in J. Adams Wks. (1854) IX. 490 If this was not the piddler, it might be the oddity of Virginia.
1800 in Spirit of Public Jrnls. (1801) 4 360 He was a mere piddler compared to me.
1899 B. W. Green Word-bk. Virginia Folk-speech 274 Piddler, one who piddles; a mere trifler or good-for-nothing.
1922 I. Gershwin Mischa, Jascha, Toscha, Sascha in Compl. Lyrics (1993) 29/1 Other fiddlers are just piddlers.
1992 Dragon Mag. Feb. 36/3 All other gods are mere cosmic piddlers who have deluded their followers.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2006; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1602