WRIGGLE

wiggle, wriggle, squirm

(noun) the act of wiggling

writhe, wrestle, wriggle, worm, squirm, twist

(verb) to move in a twisting or contorted motion, (especially when struggling); “The prisoner writhed in discomfort”; “The child tried to wriggle free from his aunt’s embrace”

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Verb

wriggle (third-person singular simple present wriggles, present participle wriggling, simple past and past participle wriggled)

(intransitive) To twist one's body to and fro with short, writhing motions; to squirm.

(transitive) To cause to or make something wriggle.

(intransitive) To use crooked or devious means.

Noun

wriggle (plural wriggles)

A wriggling movement.

Anagrams

• wiggler

Source: Wiktionary


Wrig"gle, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Wriggled; p. pr. & vb. n. Wriggling.] Etym: [Freq. of wrig, probably from OE. wrikken to move to and fro; cf. LG. wriggeln, D. wrikken, Sw. vricka, Dan. vrikke.]

Definition: To move the body to and fro with short, writhing motions, like a worm; to squirm; to twist uneasily or quickly about. Both he and successors would often wriggle in their seats, as long as the cushion lasted. Swift.

Wrig"gle, v. t.

Definition: To move with short, quick contortions; to move by twisting and squirming; like a worm. Covetousness will wriggle itself out at a small hole. Fuller. Wriggling his body to recover His seat, and cast his right leg over. Hudibras.

Wrig"gle, a.

Definition: Wriggling; frisky; pliant; flexible. [Obs.] "Their wriggle tails." Spenser.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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