Collins English-English Dictionary

fiddle ['fɪd^əl]

1. 1. n [informal or sometimes when used of a classical violin disparaging] any instrument of the viol or violin family, esp the violin

2. 2. n a violin played as a folk instrument

3. 3. n time-wasting or trifling behaviour; nonsense; triviality

4. 4. n [nautical] a small railing around the top of a table to prevent objects from falling off it in bad weather

5. 5. n [Brit] [informal] an illegal or fraudulent transaction or arrangement

6. 6. n [Brit] [informal] a manually delicate or tricky operation

7. 7. vb to play (a tune) on the fiddle

8. 8. vi. [intr; often foll by with] to make restless or aimless movements with the hands

9. 9. vi. [when intr, often foll by about or around] [informal] to spend (time) or act in a careless or inconsequential manner; waste (time)

10. 10. vi. [often foll by with] [informal] to tamper or interfere (with)

11. 11. vi. [informal] to contrive to do (something) by illicit means or deception

    he fiddled his way into a position of trust

12. 12. vt. [tr] [informal] to falsify (accounts, etc); swindle

13. 13. vt. [Etymology] Old English fithele, probably from Medieval Latin vitula, from Latin vitulari to celebrate; compare Old High German fidula fiddle; see viola¹