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

That’s just enough wiggle room for sound engineers, who can try tricks of the trade to make commercials feel punchier and be perceived as louder while staying within the rules, Liaukonyte said.

From Los Angeles Times

“He has the ability to rush the passer,” Smith said, adding, “The guy’s got some wiggle.”

From Los Angeles Times

“Some people don’t want to have to get a long-term place,” she says, and signing a lease doesn’t allow any wiggle room for exigent circumstances.

From Salon

“Frankly, there isn’t wiggle room in our ambition. Cap-and-trade is the most cost-effective climate policy that California has.”

From Los Angeles Times

The maneuver essentially deferred a case, but didn’t completely dismiss it, giving both the court and the immigrant wiggle room.

From Los Angeles Times