Middle English Dictionary Entry
wriggen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | wriggen v. |
| Etymology | Origin uncertain; cp. EFris. wriggen, MLG vorwreggen, & Du. wriggelen. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. wigelen v., wrikken v.
1.
To wag (one’s tail);—used fig.; ~ with the tail, of a bird: twist or flap its tail.
Associated quotations
- ?a1500 Looke out here (Cole)p.226 : Yet shall hankyn Attibbrigge, Full ȝerne for Swappes his Tayle wrigge.
- c1500 PFulham (Trin-C R.3.19)p.124 : A gentyll ffowle can make no defence Whan he is taake, save wrigge [Jas: wrastyll and wrynge] with the tayle a lite.