wiggle

[wig-uhl]

verb (used without object)

wiggled, wiggling 

1. to move or go with short, quick, irregular movements from side to side.

   The puppies wiggled with delight.

verb (used with object)

wiggled, wiggling 

1. to cause to wiggle; move quickly and irregularly from side to side.

noun

1. a wiggling movement or course.

2. a wiggly line.

3. a dish of creamed fish or shellfish and peas.

wiggle

/ ˈwɪɡəl /

verb

1. to move or cause to move with jerky movements, esp from side to side

noun

1. the act or an instance of wiggling

2. slang,  to hurry up

Other Word Forms

• outwiggle verb (used with object)
• wiggler noun
• wiggly adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of wiggle¹

1175–1225; Middle English wiglen; akin to Old English wegan to move, wēg motion, wicga insect; compare Norwegian vigla to totter, frequentative of vigga to rock oneself, Dutch, Low German wiggelen

Word History and Origins

Origin of wiggle¹

C13: from Middle Low German, Middle Dutch wiggelen

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. get a wiggle on, to hurry up; get a move on.

   If you don't get a wiggle on, we'll miss the first act.

Example Sentences

Think about where you could trim spending should you need a little more wiggle room on price.

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From this, you can get a grasp on where your combined income falls, and how much wiggle room you have.

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“We breathe. We move and we wiggle. We have meditative moments. It’s a big swirl of play.”

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Retirees have less wiggle room to weather volatility than younger investors, and it’s important to make sure your portfolio can withstand the bumps.

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It wiggles its head through and looks directly at me and Autumn.

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