See Also: niggle(1)(dictionary)
niggle(2)(dictionary)
niggle 1, verb(dictionary)
niggle 2, noun(dictionary)

niggle(2) (iou)



niggle verb2 & noun. E17.
[App. of Scandinavian origin: cf. Norwegian nigla verb. Earlier as NIGGLING adjective.]
A. verb.
I.
verb intrans. Work or do something in a trifling, fiddling, or ineffective way; trifle (with a thing); waste effort or time on petty details; be overelaborate in minor points. E17.
A. Y. Jackson She niggled with small brushes while I tried..to get her to paint with more breadth.
b. Go about, keep moving along, in a fiddling or ineffective manner. M18.
verb intrans. Of a girl: be restless or fidgety from wantonness or sexual inclination. E18-E19.
verb intrans. Nag; cause slight but persistent annoyance, discomfort, or anxiety; complain, esp. in a petty or trifling way; be unnecessarily critical or overprecise. (Foll. by at.) L18.
A. West It was like so many of our dull conversations, my mistakes being niggled over. G. Priestland I may niggle at some of their details. M. S. Power Something niggled at the back of Pericles's mind.
verb trans. Execute in a petty trifling manner, or with too much petty detail or overelaboration of minor points. Chiefly as niggled ppl adjective. M19.
verb trans. Annoy, irritate; complain at, esp. in a petty or trifling way; criticize; nag at. L19.
S. Barstow Nothing niggles me more than cutting myself shaving.
II.
verb trans. Cheat, trick. slang & dial. Now rare or obsolete. E17.
b. noun.
(An example of) small cramped handwriting. M19.
New Yorker Her handwriting..doesn't seem such a niggle as usual.
The action of nagging or finding fault. dial. L19.
A complaint, a criticism, esp. one that is petty or trifling; a worry, an annoyance. M20.
Motorbike Monthly Niggles..were the difficulty of access to the port engine..and to the adjustment nuts.
niggler noun M19.