kittle

1 of 2

verb

kit·​tle ˈki-tᵊl How to pronounce kittle (audio)
kittled; kittling
ˈkit-liŋ,
ˈki-tᵊl-iŋ How to pronounce kittle (audio)

transitive verb

1
chiefly Scotland : tickle
2
chiefly Scotland : perplex

kittle

2 of 2

adjective

chiefly Scotland
: ticklish, touchy

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English (northern dialect) kytyllen

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1568, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of kittle was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near kittle

kittiwake

kittle

kittle cattle

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Kittle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kittle. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

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