doodle
1[ dood-l ]
/ ˈdud l /
Save This Word!
verb (used with or without object), doo·dled, doo·dling.
to draw or scribble idly: He doodled during the whole lecture.
to waste (time) in aimless or foolish activity.
Dialect. to deceive; cheat.
noun
a design, figure, or the like, made by idle scribbling.
Archaic. a foolish or silly person.
QUIZ
WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?
Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!
Question 1 of 7
Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.
Origin of doodle
11625–30 in archaic sense “a fool”; 1935–40 in current senses; compare Low German dudeltopf simpleton
OTHER WORDS FROM doodle
doodler, nounOther definitions for doodle (2 of 2)
doodle2
[ dood-l ]
/ ˈdud l /
noun Chiefly North Midland U.S.
a small pile of hay; haystack.
Also called hay doodle.
Origin of doodle
2Probably extracted from cock-a-doodle-doo; a euphemism for cock3, to avoid association with cock1, in sense “penis”
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use doodle in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for doodle
doodle
/ (ˈduːdəl) informal /
verb
to scribble or draw aimlessly
to play or improvise idly
(intr often foll by away) US to dawdle or waste time
noun
a shape, picture, etc, drawn aimlessly
Derived forms of doodle
doodler, nounWord Origin for doodle
C20: perhaps from C17 doodle a foolish person, but influenced in meaning by dawdle; compare Low German dudeltopf simpleton
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012