Dabbling
/ˈdæb.əl.ɪŋ/noun
Engaging in an activity in a casual, superficial, or experimental way.
Did you know?The word is tied to the idea of making small splashes or quick touches, which is why it naturally came to mean only skimming the surface of a skill or craft.
Etymological Timeline
Late Middle English
English
dablen / dabben
“To strike, tap, or make a light splash; also to handle clumsily or superficially.”
Middle English
English
dab
“A light blow, tap, or small splash.”
Early Modern English
English
dabble
“To make little splashes in water; later, to work at something in an uncertain or superficial way.”
Modern English
English
dabbling
“Engaging in something casually or without deep commitment.”