footle

American  

[foot-l] / ˈfʊt l /

verb (used without object)

footled, footling

1. to act or talk in a foolish or silly way.

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noun

1. nonsense; foolishness; twaddle.

footle British  

/ ˈfuːtəl /

verb

1. to loiter aimlessly; potter

2. to talk nonsense

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noun

1. rare foolishness

Etymology

Origin of footle

First recorded in 1890–95; origin uncertain; cf. footy

Example Sentences

Albeit to young Mr Benny pure literature made no appeal, and had even been summarised by him as "footle," in the business of advertising he developed a curious literary twist.

From Hocken and Hunken by Quiller-Couch, Arthur Thomas, Sir

Think of the people to whom your bottles of footle go!

From Tono Bungay by Wells, H. G. (Herbert George)

"I suppose you'll just footle, then," his friend had summed it up, and left him, because it was half-past six, and they had dinner at that strange hour.

From The Lee Shore by Macaulay, Rose, Dame

SETTEE, do try not to footle like this!

From Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 100, January 3, 1891 by Various

Permission to footle in the lab. on half-holidays, and all the rest of it?

From Acton's Feud A Public School Story by Swainson, Frederick