tiddler
|tid-dler|
🇺🇸
/ˈtɪd.lɚ/
🇬🇧
/ˈtɪd.lə/
very small thing
Etymology
'tiddler' originates from English dialect, specifically from words like 'tiddy' or 'tiddle' used in regional speech, where the element 'tidd-' conveyed the idea of 'small' or 'young'.
'tiddler' changed from dialectal forms such as 'tiddy'/'tiddle' (recorded in 19th-century regional English) and eventually became the modern English word 'tiddler' with the diminutive '-er' ending denoting a small thing or creature.
Initially, it meant 'small creature' or specifically a 'small fish', but over time it evolved to include broader senses such as 'a small or insignificant thing/person' and 'a short or minor news item'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a very small fish (often a small freshwater fish or minnow).
He caught a tiddler in the stream.
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Noun 2
something very small or insignificant (an item, matter, or person considered minor).
The mistake was a mere tiddler and didn't affect the result.
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Last updated: 2025/11/19 00:49