Fiddle — Defs

01 n. A stringed instrument of music played with a bow; a violin; a kit.

1.
A stringed instrument of music played with a bow; a violin; a kit.(Mus.)
2.
A kind of dock (Rumex pulcher) with fiddle-shaped leaves; -- called also fiddle dock.(Bot.) 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.(Naut.)

Phrases & compounds

Fiddle beetle — a Japanese carabid beetle (Damaster blaptoides); -- so called from the form of the body.

Fiddle block — a long tackle block having two sheaves of different diameters in the same plane, instead of side by side as in a common double block.

Fiddle bow — fiddlestick.

Fiddle fish — the angel fish.

Fiddle head — See fiddle head in the vocabulary.

Fiddle pattern — a form of the handles of spoons, forks, etc., somewhat like a violin.

Scotch fiddle — to take a leading or a subordinate part.

02 v. i. To play on a fiddle.

imp. & p. p. Fiddled; p. pr. & vb. n. Fiddling

1.
To play on a fiddle.
“Themistocles . . . said he could not fiddle, but he could make a small town a great city.” — Bacon.
2.
To keep the hands and fingers actively moving as a fiddler does; to move the hands and fingers restlessy or in busy idleness; to trifle.
“Talking, and fiddling with their hats and feathers.” — Pepys.

03 v. t. To play (a tune) on a fiddle.