popple

¹

[ pop-uhl ]

verb (used without object)

, pop·pled, pop·pling.

1. to move in a tumbling, irregular manner, as boiling water.

noun

1. a poppling motion.

popple

²

[ pop-uhl ]

noun

, Northern U.S.

1. a poplar of the genus Populus.

popple

/ ˈpɒpəl /

verb

1. (of boiling water or a choppy sea) to heave or toss; bubble
2. often foll by along (of a stream or river) to move with an irregular tumbling motion

   the small rivulet poppled along over rocks and stones for half a mile

Word History and Origins

Origin of popple¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English poplen; imitative; -le

Origin of popple²

First recorded before 1000; Middle English; Old English popul, from Latin pōpulus

Word History and Origins

Origin of popple¹

C14: of imitative origin; compare Middle Dutch popelen to bubble, throb

Example Sentences

Oh, I don't know unless it's because he makes such nice popple whistles!

From Project Gutenberg

To these we fastened cross pieces of "popple" and on this put a tick filled with wild hay and corn stalk leaves.

From Project Gutenberg

The roof was made by laying popple poles so they met in the middle and fastening them together.

From Project Gutenberg

So well placed and idle a gentleman was almost bound to be a bad poet and worse dramatist, and this William Popple was both.

From Project Gutenberg

The remains of the forest, overgrown with scrub oak and popple thickets pushed down to the right of way.

From Project Gutenberg