doodle English · revision 2058

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈduːdl̩/ ''(UK)''; /ˈdud(ə)l/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It probably comes from the English dialect verb ''doodle'', ''dudle'' “to waste time, trifle”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) perhaps influenced by [[dawdle]].^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) This may in turn be from the older noun ''doodle'' “a fool” (1628),^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) which is of uncertain origin; compare Low German ''Dudeltopf'' “simpleton”.^(Barnhart 1995)^(AHD)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A silly or foolish fellow (1628).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The modern verb, to scribble aimlessly, is recorded from 1935 (Etymonline and Merriam-Webster) or 1937 (Barnhart and the OED).^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989) It was popularized by the screenplay of a 1936 film, in which a character explains doodling as making foolish designs on paper while thinking.^(Etymonline) The noun, an aimless scrawl, follows in 1937.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate) The older senses “to cheat” and “a fool” survive only in dialect or as archaic.^(OED 1989)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1628 – a foolish fellow.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1823 – verb, to make a fool of, cheat.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1935 – verb, to scribble aimlessly.^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1937 – noun, an aimless scrawl.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To draw or scribble aimlessly, especially while thinking of something else.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To waste time; to trifle.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A figure or scribble drawn absent-mindedly.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(archaic)'' A foolish person.^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[doodler]]

+ * [[doodlebug]]

+ * [[Yankee Doodle]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[dawdle]]

+ * [[noodle]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}