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

They hang around gardens in the spring ov the year, and are wuss, and quicker, on kukumber vines, than a distrikt skoolmaster iz on a kittle ov warm pork and beans.

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

"Sit down, sit down, and while the kittle is biling for tay, I can listen to your trroobles."

From At Boarding School with the Tucker Twins by Speed, Nell

So you see here was a pretty kittle of fish.

From Letters of Major Jack Downing, of the Downingville Militia by Smith, Seba