Diddle
/ˈdɪd.əl/noun
To waste time, cheat, or swindle someone; also a slang term for masturbate.
Did you know?“Diddle” is first recorded in the 19th century and is probably related to older English words like “didle” meaning to trifle or loiter, but its exact origin is uncertain—one of those sneaky words that feels more like sound than scholarship.
Etymological Timeline
19th Century
English
diddle
“To cheat, swindle, or toy with something; later also used as slang for masturbate”
Earlier Modern English
English
didle
“To trifle, loiter, or waste time”
Possibly 16th–17th Century
English
diddle / diddle-daddle
“A nursery-style or colloquial reduplication used for fussing, trifling, or idle motion”
Uncertain
Unknown
?
“The ultimate origin is obscure; no securely established ancient root is accepted by standard references”