transitive verb whittled -·tled, whittling -·tling

1. 1. to cut or pare thin shavings from (wood) with a knife
   2. to make or fashion (an object) in this manner
2. to reduce, destroy, or get rid of gradually, as if by whittling away with a knife: usually with down, away, etc. to whittle down the cost of a project

Etymology: < obs. whittle, a knife < ME whyttel, var. of thwitel, dim. < OE thwitan, to cut < IE base *twei-, to strike, cut

intransitive verb

noun