whiddle, v. slang.
(ˈhwɪd(ə)l)
Also 8 whidle, whidel, widdle.
[? f. whid n.1]
intr. a. To divulge a secret, turn informer, ‘peach’. b. See quot. 1725. Hence ˈwhiddler.
| c 1661 Marq. Argyle's Last Will in Harl. Misc. (1746) VIII. 28/1, I understand..he hath made so large a Progress in Discovering, that he can pay it now to himself—The Devil was in me to suffer such a pitiful Fellow to whiddle before me. a 1700 B. E. Dict. Cant. Crew, Whiddler, a Peacher (or rather Impeacher) of his Gang. 1725 New Cant. Dict., To Whiddle, to enter into a Parley, to compound with, or take off by a Bribe. 1756 J. Cox Narr. Thief-takers 66 The Prisoner..then swore he wished he had cut off his Head, for then he would not have whidelled again. 1781 G. Parker View Soc. ii. 133 About Darkey [i.e. twilight], or when Oliver don't widdle [footn. The Moon not up]. 1812 J. H. Vaux Flash Dict. s.v., Don't you whiddle about so and so, that is, don't mention it. |