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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

NIDDLE, v.¹ Also nid(de)l (Jak.). [nɪdə]

1. To work quickly or perseveringly with the fingers, to use the fingers in some intricate or laborious task (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Dmf. 1899 Country Schoolmaster (Wallace) 351; Uls. 1905 Uls. Jnl. Archaeol. 125), as in knitting (Abd., Fif. 1964). Also fig. of animals in 1893 quot.Fif. 1827 W. Tennant Papistry Storm'd 15:
The wyres were gowden, braw to see, Wharewi' her fingers prettilie Did niddle i' their play.Per. 1878 R. Ford Hame-spun Lays 62:
An' they whiddled about, they niddled about, They chirm'd, they kiss'd, an' caress'd.Kcb. 1904 Gallovidian No. 22. 69:
Tam Russell, and Samuel Nairn who often assisted him, as they niddled away at the nails.

2. To toy with the fingers, to fiddle about with the hands, esp. at something trifling or futile, to potter (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Ork. 1929 Marw.); to act in such a way as to cause annoyance or impatience (Marw.), phs. confused with Eng. nettle, or slang needle, to irritate. Ppl.adj. niddlin, fiddling, trifling, feckless. Deriv. niddle-noddle, adj., id. (Abd. 1964).Sc. 1874 W. Allan Hamespun Lilts 372:
Hoots awa', ye dowffie chiel, yer but a niddlin' bodie.Uls. 1892 Ballymena Obs.:
Whut are you niddlin about?

3. In various specif. senses, involving slow, laborious or ineffectual action: to walk with short stumping steps (Ork. 1929 Marw.); to spread dung in turnip drills (Id.); of a quern or water-mill; to grind imperfectly (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)); in regard to sexual intercourse: to fumble (Fif. c.1850 R. Peattie MS.).Kcb. 1912 A. Anderson Later Poems 159:
Auld Johnnie Noddle sleeps through a' the day . . . Then he waukens up an' niddles up an' doon.