whittle
whit·tle (hwit′'l, wit′'l)
transitive verb whittled -·tled, whittling -·tling
- to cut or pare thin shavings from (wood) with a knife
- to make or fashion (an object) in this manner
- 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
Related Forms:
- whittler whit′·tler noun
Whit·tle (hwit′'l, wit′-)
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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