waggle

[wag-uhl]

verb (used without object)

waggled, waggling 

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)

waggled, waggling 

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

Other Word Forms

• wagglingly adverb
• waggly adjective

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

Every day, new people came, some people left, but the constant was Syd, his presence, his waggle, his ability to give unexpected joy.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

He added: "He had a super swing - a no-nonsense swing. One waggle and away it went."

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Millions of people watched the awards shows where Williams waggled his hips at Tom Jones, or challenged Oasis’ Liam Gallagher to a fist fight — moments that have been absorbed into pop culture.

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But he says the new research reveals more about the structure of a species’ communication system, much as scientists deciphered how the waggles of honey bees tell other bees where flowers are located.

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“Poor Lady Augusta Drear, Lady-in-Waiting to the Princess, has not had a happy crossing,” she said, waggling her old head.

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