addle Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb mix up or confuse
    puddle; muddle.
    • He muddled the issues
  2. verb become rotten
    • addled eggs

WordNet

Ad"dle noun
Etymology
OE. adel, AS. adela, mud.
Definitions
  1. Liquid filth; mire. Obs.
  2. Lees; dregs. Prov. Eng. Wright.
Ad"dle adjective
Definitions
  1. Having lost the power of development, and become rotten, as eggs; putrid. Hence: Unfruitful or confused, as brains; muddled. Dryden.
Ad"dle transitive verb & intransitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Addled present participle & verbal noun Addling
Definitions
  1. To make addle; to grow addle; to muddle; as, he addled his brain. "Their eggs were addled." Cowper.
Ad"dle transitive verb & intransitive verb
Etymology
OE. adlen, adilen, to gain, acquire; prob. fr. Icel. öthlask to acquire property, akin to othal property. Cf. Allodial.
Definitions
  1. To earn by labor. Prov. Eng. Forby.
  2. To thrive or grow; to ripen. Prov. Eng.
    Kill ivy, else tree will addle no more. Tusser.

Webster 1913