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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

TRODDLE, v. Also trodle. [trɔdl]

1. To toddle, trot, walk with short quick steps (Ags. 1825 Jam.). Hence deriv. ¶troddle fuffie, a round, chubby person (Abd. 1958). Used with cogn. accus. in 1904 quot.Ags. 1820 A. Balfour Contemplation 264:
Poor Colley, wha to mony a fair, Wi' Watty troddled late an' ear'.Abd. 1832 W. Scott Poems 99:
The mither she pits on her duds, An' troddles ben the fleer.Rnf. 1842 R. Clark Random Rhymes 26:
May ye to some place better troddle Than Clooty's den.Kcd. 1889 J. & W. Clark Musings 47:
He's safest on the road to troddle.Abd. 1904 Banffshire Jnl. (4 Oct.) 2:
Jock Duffus ca'd the Mallie meere, Mony a load he troddl't wi' er.

2. Of water: to flow gently, to ripple (n.Sc. 1825 Jam.). Hence ppl.adj. troddlin, rippling, purling.Abd. 1804 W. Tarras Poems 82:
The troddlin burnie i' the glen Glides cannie o'er its peebles sma'.

¶3. To move a little at a time, slip gradually.Sc. 1827 G. R. Kinloch Ballad Book (1891) 54:
The bridegroom gaed thro' the reel, And his breeks cam trodling doun.