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

SETTEE, do try not to footle like this!

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

Of course, he would just footle; he always had.

From The Lee Shore by Macaulay, Rose, Dame

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

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

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

Now, really, Settee, do try not to footle like this!

From Voces Populi by Anstey, F.