waggle

[ wag-uhl ]

verb (used without object)

, wag·gled, wag·gling.

1. to wobble or shake, especially while in motion:

   The ball waggled slowly to a stop. The leaves of the tree waggled in the wind.

verb (used with object)

, wag·gled, wag·gling.

1. to move up and down or from side to side in a short, rapid manner; wag:

   to waggle one's head.

2. Golf. to make a waggle with (a golf club).

noun

1. a waggling motion.
2. Golf. a swinging movement made with a golf club to and fro over the ball prior to a stroke.

waggle

/ ˈwæɡəl /

verb

1. to move or cause to move with a rapid shaking or wobbling motion

noun

1. a rapid shaking or wobbling motion

Derived Forms

• ˈwaggly, adjective
• ˈwagglingly, adverb

Other Words From

• waggling·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of waggle¹

First recorded in 1585–95; wag + -le

Word History and Origins

Origin of waggle¹

C16: frequentative of wag ¹

Example Sentences

In earlier research, Landgraf built a robot that could perform a waggle dance so convincing that other bees followed it—and, at least sometimes, flew in the direction the robot suggested.

From MIT Technology Review

Waggle your eyebrows at a girl, and she'll ask what's wrong with your eye.

From The Daily Beast

He must hold himself ever in readiness to wiggle-waggle in the perpetual Simon-says-thumbs-up game which his crowd is playing.

From Project Gutenberg

They were twenty small red demons rather like Billy, and the same number of tiny skeletons, all with waggle-some hands and feet.

From Project Gutenberg

The men dance in a circle, stamping the time; the women waggle round and round the circle, outside it.

From Project Gutenberg

There he goes, round and round—and now he's asleep—and now he begins to reel—wiggle-waggle—-down he tumbles!

From Project Gutenberg

Away she darted a few steps, to whirl and point and waggle a finger at the dumfounded youth.

From Project Gutenberg