Fiddle Meaning

/ˈfɪd(ə)l/
B2

Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.

Listen pronunciation

nounA violin, a small unfretted stringed instrument with four strings tuned (lowest to highest) G-D-A-E, usually held against the chin, shoulder, chest or on the upper thigh and played with a bow (see also usage notes below).

nounAny of various other bowed stringed instruments, particularly those of the violin family when played non-classically.

You're certainly looking fit as a fiddle today.
Nero did not actually fiddle while Rome burned.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
During the boring lecture, he couldn't help but ____ with his pen, clicking it repeatedly.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
He likes to ____ with old clocks, taking them apart and trying to put them back together again.

From Middle English fithele, from Old English *fiþele, from Proto-West Germanic *fiþulā, from Proto-Germanic *fiþulǭ (“fiddle”), of uncertain etymology. Some contest that the Germanic terms are borrowed variations of Late Latin vitula (see viola); others contest that the word has a separate origin within Germanic languages, and still others believe that the Late Latin term for the stringed instrument is a borrowing from Germanic as a change of Latin t to Germanic þ is highly improbable, yet Germanic þ to Latin t is well documented (see troop, trousers, Teobaldo, etc.). Cognate with Old High German fidula (German Fiedel), Middle Dutch vedele (Dutch vedel, veel), Old Norse fiðla (Icelandic fiðla, Danish fiddel, Norwegian fela, Swedish fela). The change from /ðl/ to /dl/ in modern English is regular; compare Bedlam, staddle, swaddle (in brothel, it was prevented; see that entry for discussion).

"Johnny, rosin up your bow and play your fiddle hard 'Cause Hell's broke loose in Georgia an' the Devil deals the cards..." — 1979, Charlie Daniels et al., The Devil Went Down to Georgia:
"The fiddle of these early times, however, was the viol and not our modern violin." — 1864, William Sandys et al., The History of the Violin..., page 38:
"You would not have your Son the Fiddle to every jovial Company." — 1693, John Locke, Some Thoughts Concerning Education, page 208:
"Most people are quite careful about buying appliances. When looking at TVs for instance you might look for a particular brand, peruse the definition and colors on the screen, and maybe even have a fiddle with the remote." — 1998, Dean Ormandy, Conquering Computers, page 74:
"The meal is served on special trays which slot into the arms of airline-type seats of the passenger coaches. The trays have fiddles for each of the plates, cups and glasses, and the crockery is so well-designed that it is seldom any of the contents get spilled." — 1962 September, P. Ransome-Wallis, “The Talgo trains of Spain”, in Modern Railways, page 188:

Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words

CEFR Practice Quiz
During the boring lecture, he couldn't help but ____ with his pen, clicking it repeatedly.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
He likes to ____ with old clocks, taking them apart and trying to put them back together again.

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