footle
Americanverb (used without object)
noun
verb
-
to loiter aimlessly; potter
-
to talk nonsense
noun
Etymology
Origin of footle
First recorded in 1890–95; origin uncertain; cf. footy
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
I think it's the most footle business I ever heard of!
From In the Onyx Lobby by Carolyn Wells
Of course, he would just footle; he always had.
From The Lee Shore by Dame Rose Macaulay
Now, really, Settee, do try not to footle like this!
From Voces Populi by F. Anstey
"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 Dame Rose Macaulay
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 Sir Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch
About two hours later, it was recognised Arthur was "an unanticipated footling breech", the Record of Inquest states.
From BBC ● Mar. 14, 2023
That left Jonathan with lifelong feelings of guilt, which led him on several occasions to announce that he was abandoning what he once called “this footling flibbertigibbet world of theater.”
From Seattle Times ● Nov. 27, 2019
This is in the grand scheme of things a footling detail, and there are many thousands more lines, and two more realms, to get through.
From The Guardian ● Jul. 22, 2013
Still, he was expected to risk body and bone in a footling contest.
From The Guardian ● Nov. 23, 2010
All this footling squabble between workmen and employers about a farthing an hour more or a farthing an hour less ... isn't decent ... it isn't gentlemanly.
From Changing Winds A Novel by St. John G. (St. John Greer) Ervine
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