Dabble
/ˈdæb.əl/noun
To do something in a casual, superficial, or intermittent way; also, to splash lightly in water.
Did you know?Its earliest sense is tied to light splashing and wetting, probably from a frequentative form of an older sound-imitative root, which is why it still feels like a word for shallow contact.
Etymological Timeline
Late Middle English
English
dablen
“To wet or splash lightly; to paddle about in water.”
15th–16th Century
English
dabble
“To make a light splashing or wetting action, especially with fingers or feet.”
16th–17th Century
English
dab
“To strike or touch lightly; a small smear or pat.”
Modern English
English
dabble
“To take part in something in a casual, superficial, or non-committal way; also, to splash lightly.”