Sidle

Pronunciation

• enPR: sÄ«d-(É™)l, IPA: /ˈsaɪd(É™)l/
• Rhymes: -aɪd(É™)l

Origin

1690s, from Middle English sidlyng (early 14th century), as side + -lyng ("(frequentive)") (modern English side + -le("(frequentive)")).

Online Etymology Dictionary

Full definition of sidle

Noun

1. A sideways movement.
2. A furtive advance.

Verb

1. To move sideways.
2. To advance in a furtive, coy or unobtrusive manner.
• 1960, P. G. Wodehouse, Jeeves in the Offing, At an early point in these exchanges I had started to sidle to the door, and I now sidled through it, rather like a diffident crab on some sandy beach trying to avoid the attentions of a child with a spade.

Derived terms

• sidle up

Related terms

• sideling, sidling
• sidelong

Anagrams

• delis, idles, slide