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Definition of 'Whittle'

noun

English aeronautical engineer who invented the jet aircraft engine (1907-1996) [syn: Whittle, Frank Whittle, Sir Frank Whittle]

verb

Cut small bits or pare shavings from; "whittle a piece of wood" [syn: whittle, pare]

From: GCIDE

Whittle \Whit"tle\, v. i. To cut or shape a piece of wood with am small knife; to cut up a piece of wood with a knife. [1913 Webster]
Dexterity with a pocketknife is a part of a Nantucket education; but I am inclined to think the propensity is national. Americans must and will whittle. --Willis. [1913 Webster]

From: GCIDE

Whittle \Whit"tle\, n. [AS. hw[imac]tel, from hwit white; akin to Icel. hv[imac]till a white bed cover. See White.] (a) A grayish, coarse double blanket worn by countrywomen, in the west of England, over the shoulders, like a cloak or shawl. --C. Kingsley. (b) Same as Whittle shawl, below. [1913 Webster]
Whittle shawl, a kind of fine woolen shawl, originally and especially a white one. [1913 Webster]

From: GCIDE

Whittle \Whit"tle\, n. [OE. thwitel, fr. AS. pw[imac]tan to cut. Cf. Thwittle, Thwaite a piece of ground.] A knife; esp., a pocket, sheath, or clasp knife. "A butcher's whittle." --Dryden. "Rude whittles." -- Macaulay. [1913 Webster]
He wore a Sheffield whittle in his hose. --Betterton. [1913 Webster]

From: GCIDE

Whittle \Whit"tle\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Whittled; p. pr. & vb. n. Whittling.] [1913 Webster]
1. To pare or cut off the surface of with a small knife; to cut or shape, as a piece of wood held in the hand, with a clasp knife or pocketknife. [1913 Webster]
2. To edge; to sharpen; to render eager or excited; esp., to excite with liquor; to inebriate. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
"In vino veritas." When men are well whittled, their tongues run at random. --Withals. [1913 Webster]