haffle, v. dial.
(ˈhæf(ə)l)
[cf. Du. (local) haffelen (of a suckling baby) to pull and push at the breast; (of women) to talk a lot, argue.]
intr. To speak in a hesitant or stammering manner; to prevaricate, shilly-shally. Cf. caffle v.
| 1790 Grose Provincial Gloss. (ed. 2) Haffle, to prevaricate. 1825 J. T. Brockett Gloss. N. Country Words 88 Haffle, to waver, to speak unintelligibly. 1869 R. B. Peacock Gloss. Lonsdale 39/1 Haffle, to stammer, to prevaricate, to falter. 1902 in E.D.D. s.v., [Nottingham] The doctor, he haffled and caffled, he didn't rightly know what war wrong wi' her himself. 1913 [see caffle v.]. 1913 D. H. Lawrence Let. 3 Mar. (1962) I. 191 The Nottingham people are still haffling and caffling about the children. |