waffle English · revision 908

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈwɒf.əl/ ''(UK)''; /ˈwɑf.əl/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The noun for a batter cake is [[bor|nl|wafel]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) from [[dum|wāfel]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) related to [[goh|waba|t=honeycomb]] and to [[weave]].^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) The verb meaning “to talk vaguely” is a frequentative of obsolete ''waff'' “to yelp”, probably imitative.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A batter cake baked in a waffle iron (1744, in ''wafel-frolic'', a waffle party).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The sense of honeycomb survives in textile terms for a waffle-like weave (1948).^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989) The ''waffle iron'' dates from 1794.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) The verb ''waffle'' first meant “to yelp” (1698),^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995) then “to talk foolishly” (1701)^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995) and, originally in Scottish and northern English, “to vacillate, equivocate” (1803).^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) The noun “empty, verbose talk” is recorded from 1866–88.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1698 – verb, to yelp.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1701 – verb, to talk foolishly.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1744 – the batter cake.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1794 – ''waffle iron''.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1803 – verb, to vacillate.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1866 – noun, empty verbiage.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A light, crisp batter cake baked in a hinged [[waffle iron]], which gives it a grid pattern.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Vague, wordy or evasive speech or writing.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To speak or write evasively; to [[equivocate]] or vacillate.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To talk or write at length without saying anything clear; to ramble.^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[waffler]]

+ * [[wafflingly]]

+ * [[waffle iron]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[wafer]]

+ * [[weave]]

+ * [[gaufre]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}