kittle

American  

[kit-l] / ˈkɪt l /

verb (used with object)

kittled, kittling

1. to tickle with the fingers; agitate or stir, as with a spoon.

2. to excite or rouse (a person), especially by flattery or strong words.

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adjective

kittler, kittlest

1. ticklish; fidgety.

2. requiring skill or caution; precarious.

kittle British  

/ ˈkɪtəl /

adjective

1. capricious and unpredictable

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verb

1. to be troublesome or puzzling to (someone)

2. to tickle

Etymology

Origin of kittle

First recorded in 1475–85; earlier kytylle, ketil (compare Middle English verbal noun kitilling, kitlinge “tickling” late Old English citelung, kitelung ); cognate with Middle High German kützeln; akin to Old Norse kitla, German kitzeln “to tickle”

Example Sentences

I still got our old copper kittle an she's 30 gallons if she's a spoon-full.

From Time Magazine Archive

Somethin caught his interest an he turned round and afore you could say jackrobinson he backed up and sot right down in the kittle.

From Time Magazine Archive

Slander iz like the tin kittle tied to a dorg’s tale—a very good kind ov kittle so long az it ain’t our dorg’s tale.

From The Complete Works of Josh Billings by Shaw, Henry W.

I was just on the pint ov thinking ov sumthing else when the landlord cum out to the frunt stupe ov the tavern stand holding by a string the bottom ov an old brass kittle.

From The Complete Works of Josh Billings by Shaw, Henry W.

And I 'clare to man the kittle ain't even biled, much less the tea adrawin'!

From The Actress' Daughter A Novel by Fleming, May Agnes