shaffle, v. dial.
(ˈʃæf(ə)l)
[In sense 1 (northern), app. a variant of shauchle v.; sense 2 may be developed from this, or belong to a distinct word, perh. of imitative or symbolic formation: cf. shiffle-shaffle, shiffle vbs. (E.D.D.) and shuffle v.]
1. intr. To shuffle in walking.
| [1552: implied in shaffler.] 1781 Hutton Tour to Caves (ed. 2) 95 Shaffle and Shiffle v. to hobble in walking. 1818 Todd, To Shaffle, to move with an awkward or irregular gait; to hobble. Used in the north of England. 1894 Northumbld. Gloss., Shaffle, Shaughle, to shuffle in walking. |
2. a. To work or move in a lazy fashion; to be undecided in plan or action; to vacillate, delay.
| [1703 implied in shaffles.] 1828 [Carr] Craven Gloss., Shaffle..to do things ineffectually. 1873 R. Ferguson Dial. Cumbld. 121 Shaffle, to be undecided, to vacillate. 1890 Sheffield Gloss., Shaffle, to move in a lazy way; to delay, to put off. |
b. ‘To retreat from a bargain or engagement, make excuses, prevaricate’ (Eng. Dial. Dict.).
| 1781 Hutton Tour to Caves (ed. 2) 95 Shaffle,..also to act unfairly. 1866 J. E. Brogden Provinc. Words Lincolnsh. 178 Don't shaffle with me. |
Hence ˈshaffler, one who ‘shaffles’; ˈshaffles, a bungler, shiftless person.
| 1552 Huloet, Shaffler with his fete whych fayleth in going, atta. 1703 Thoresby in Ray Philos. Lett. (1718) 336 A Shaffles, a Bungler. 1828 [Carr] Craven Gloss., Shaffler, one who walks lame. 2. A bungler in business. 1885 Hall Caine Shadow of Crime xxiv, Or mayhap ye'll ask yon shaffles, yer father. |