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

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

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

From Time Magazine Archive

It is a long and rather kittle word, but it is the only one that we have.

From Health Five Lay Sermons to Working-People by Brown, John

There was a'ways a big kittle a hangin in th' chimbly an' one o' them iron ovens a settin on the hawth.

From Slave Narratives: A Folk History of Slavery in the United States From Interviews with Former Slaves: Volume X, Missouri Narratives by United States. Work Projects Administration

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