Doodle
/ˈduː.dəl/noun
A simple, absentminded drawing or scribble; also, to waste time.
Did you know?Modern English doodle likely grew out of a 17th-century word for a simpleton or fool, showing how language can turn a person’s reputation into an everyday action.
Etymological Timeline
17th Century
German
Dudeln
“To prate, play trivially, or act foolishly”
17th Century
English
doodle
“A fool, simpleton, or trifler”
18th Century
English
doodle
“To waste time or act foolishly; to trifle”
19th Century
English
doodle
“A rough sketch or absentminded scribble”
Modern English
English
doodle
“A casual drawing made without much thought”