wiggle-wagglev.
/ˈwɪɡlˌwaɡl/, U.S. /ˈwɪɡəlˌwæɡəl/ colloquial.
transitive and intransitive. Reduplicated form combining wiggle v. and waggle v. (cf. Low German wigel-wageln vb.), emphasizing the alternation of movement.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in specific manner > writhing or twisting movement > writhe or twist [verb (intransitive)] > wriggle
wiggle?c1225
wriggle1495
wraggle?a1513
wrabble1513
sprinklea1522
wrig1599
squirm1691
scrigglea1701
wraxle1746
squiggle1816
wiggle-waggle1827
swiggle1837
scurrifunge1894
the world > movement > motion in specific manner > alternating or reciprocating motion > oscillation > oscillate [verb (transitive)] > wag > lightly
wiggle1685
wiggle-waggle1897
1827 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. July 52/1 Wiggle-waggling his walking stick ower his left elbow.
1847 J. O. Halliwell Dict. Archaic & Provinc. Words II Wiggle-waggle, to wriggle. East.
1848 Punch 15 14 The parachute..would..have wiggle-waggled itself into annihilation.
1897 Outing 30 224/1 It [sc. a fish] is gently removed from the hook, and suffered to go wiggle-waggling back to its green retreats.
Derivatives
wiggle-waggle n. (a) the act of ‘wiggle-waggling’; also, a children's game in which the players waggle their thumbs at a word of command; (b) (also wiggle-woggle) = cakewalk n. 2.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in specific manner > alternating or reciprocating motion > oscillation > [noun] > wagging > lightly
wiggling1398
wiggle-waggle1825
society > leisure > entertainment > place of amusement or entertainment > fairground or amusement park > [noun] > fairground ride > other rides
wiggle-waggle1825
helter-skelter lighthouse1906
cakewalk1908
flip-flap1908
ghost train1931
tunnel of love1954
log flume1963
razzle1969
flume1978
society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > children's game > other children's games > [noun] > games played with fingers
handy-dandy1575
nievie-nievie-nick-nackc1585
wiggle-waggle1825
pat-a-cake1838
patty-cake1889
janken1894
1825 J. T. Brockett Gloss. North Country Words Wiggle-waggle, a tremulous undulating motion.
1895 Outing 26 42/2 Brisk holding up of fingers and turning down of thumbs, like the children's game of ‘wiggle-waggle’.
1910 Penny Guide Japan-British Exhib. 25 Fun on the Wiggle Waggle.
1923 R. Macaulay Told by Idiot iii. xxi. 256 The establishment of the White City at Shepherd's Bush, with the Franco-British Exhibition..and flip-flaps, switchbacks, wiggle-woggles, and scenic railways.
1938 ‘G. Orwell’ Homage to Catalonia xii. 254 A dreadful thing called the Wiggle-Woggle at the White City Exhibition.
wiggle-waggle adj. that ‘wiggle-waggles’; figurative vacillating.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > decision > irresolution or vacillation > [adjective]
twiredec888
orrathc1175
twofoldc1175
twifoldc1200
waveringc1315
uncertain1382
suspensec1440
mammeringa1450
flowing?1504
floghtering1521
vacillant1521
in a mammering1532
double-minded1552
unstaid1561
unresolute1570
unresolved?1571
staggeringa1577
frittle1579
irresolute1579
cheverel1583
off and on1583
halting1585
unsettleda1593
unresolving1599
demurring1607
waving1611
suspensive1614
hoveringa1616
startling1619
irresolved1621
hesitating1622
indetermined1628
variousa1643
branling1645
hesitant1647
non-sincere1656
hesitatious1657
humdrum1660
shuttlecock1660
yea-and-nay1672
swaying1688
interpendent1708
undetermined1718
Squadronec1720
hesitatorya1734
volanta1734
shilly-shally1734
dilly-dally1749
niffy-naffy1765
wiggle-waggle1778
undecided1779
undecisive1780
indecisive1787
conflicted1789
hesitative1795
undeciding1802
vacillating1814
yea-nay1827
demurrant1836
willy-nilly1839
shilly-shallying1842
oscillative1852
Hamletish1854
vacillatory1854
dilly-dallying1879
thistledown1897
weak-principled1913
not-quite1920
off-again on-again1923
dithery1931
havering1975
the world > movement > motion in specific manner > alternating or reciprocating motion > oscillation > [adjective] > wagging > lightly
wiggling1611
wiggle-waggle1778
wiggle1888
wiggly-woggly1903
1778 F. Burney Let. Sept. in Early Jrnls. & Lett. (1994) III. 148 Dr. Johnson. Poll is a stupid slut;..she was wiggle waggle,—& I could never persuade her to be categorical.
1828 W. Carr Dial. Craven (ed. 2) Wiggle-waggle, quivering, vibrating.
1887 Good Words 28 673 Wiggle-waggle dress-improvers.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1924; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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