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   fiddle

   /ˈfɪdl/

   noun

   • 1. a violin. informal Similar violinviolacellodouble basshistorical:kit
   • 2. an act of defrauding, cheating, or falsifying: informal British "a major mortgage fiddle" Similar fraudswindlefixwangleconfidence trickrusewilepiece of deceptionbit of sharp practiceinformal:racketcon trickflimflamsting
   • 3. a small task that seems awkward and unnecessarily complex: informal British "inserting a tape is a bit of a fiddle"
   • 4. a ledge or raised rim that prevents things from rolling or sliding off a table in rough seas.

   verb

   • 1. touch or fidget with something in a restless or nervous way: "Lena fiddled with her cup" Similar fidgetplaytoytwiddlefussfool aboutfool aroundtriflefingerthumbhandlefeeltouchwaste timeact aimlesslyinformal:mess aboutmess aroundpaw
   • ▪ tinker with something in an attempt to make minor adjustments or improvements: "he fiddled with the blind, trying to prevent the sun from shining in her eyes" Similar tinkerplay aboutplay aroundtampermeddleinterferemonkeyadjust
   • ▪ pass time aimlessly, without doing or achieving anything of substance.
   • 2. falsify (figures, data, or records), typically in order to gain money: informal British "everyone is fiddling their expenses" Similar falsifymanipulatemassagerigdistortpervertmisrepresentjuggledoctoraltertamper withinterfere withinformal:cookfixdiddlefinagleflimflamcook the books
   • 3. play the violin. informal

   Word Origin Old Englishfithele, denoting a violin or similar instrument (originally not an informal or depreciatory term), related to Dutch vedel and German Fiedel, based on Latin vitulari ‘celebrate a festival, be joyful’, perhaps from Vitula, the name of a Roman goddess of joy and victory. Compare with viol.

   Scrabble Points: 11

   • F

     4

   • I

     1

   • D

     2

   • D

     2

   • L

     1

   • E

     1

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