| fiddle | 1. A stringed instrument of music played with a bow; a violin; a kit. 2. <botany> A kind of dock (Rumex pulcher) with fiddle-shaped leaves; called also fiddle dock. 3. A rack or frame of bars connected by strings, to keep table furniture in place on the cabin table in bad weather. <zoology> Fiddle beetle, the angel fish. Fiddle head, an ornament on a ship's bow, curved like the volute or scroll at the head of a violin. Fiddle pattern, a form of the handles of spoons, forks, etc, somewhat like a violin. Scotch fiddle, the itch. To play first, or second, fiddle, to take a leading or a subordinate part. Origin: OE. Fidele, fithele, AS. Fiele; akin to D. Vedel, OHG. Fidula, G. Fiedel, Icel. Fila, and perh. To E. Viol. Cf. Viol. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| fiddle-shaped | <botany> Inversely ovate, with a deep hollow on each side. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| fiddledeedee | An exclamatory word or phrase, equivalent to nonsense! Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| fiddler | 1. One who plays on a fiddle or violin. 2. <zoology> A burrowing crab of the genus Gelasimus, of many species. The male has one claw very much enlarged, and often holds it in a position similar to that in which a musician holds a fiddle, hence the name; called also calling crab, soldier crab, and fighting crab. 3. <zoology> The common European sandpiper (Tringoides hypoleucus); so called because it continually oscillates its body. Fiddler crab. <zoology> See Fiddler. Origin: AS. Fielere. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| fiddlewood | The wood of several West Indian trees, mostly of the genus Citharexylum. Origin: Corrupted fr. F. Bois-fidele, lit, faithful wood; so called from its durability. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |