▪ I. caddle, n. dial.
1. Disorder, disarray, confusion, disturbance.
| 1825 Britton Beauties Wiltsh. Gloss. (E.D.S.), Caddle, a term signifying confusion or embarrassment. To be in a caddle, means to be overwhelmed with business. 1861 Hughes Tom Brown Oxf. xxx. (D.) ‘Ther wur no sich a caddle about sick folk when I wur a bwoy’. 1863 A. Marsh Heathside Farm I. 70 Mrs. Stone, a short, plump, Wiltshire matron..apologised for being found in such a caddle. |
2. Trouble, bother.
| 1865 Reader 12 Aug. 182/2 The English won't take the trouble—won't, as they say with us in Somerset, be at the caddle to look after such things. |
▪ II. caddle, v. dial.
[f. prec.]
To trouble, disturb, worry.
| 1781 Hutton Tour Caves Gloss., Caddle, to attend officiously. 1825 Britton Beauties Wiltsh. Gloss. (E.D.S.) s.v., Don't caddle me, don't teaze me. A cadling fellow means an impertinent or troublesome companion. 1862 T. Hughes in Macm. Mag. V. 250 A caddled the mice in many a vield. |