the word 'squiggle' is a relatively recent formation in english, first appearing in the early 19th century. it is believed to be a blend of 'squirm' or 'wiggle' and the suffix '-le', which often denotes a repetitive action or a diminutive form, creating a word that imitates the sense of small, wriggling movements. its formation is primarily onomatopoeic or imitative, designed to phonetically suggest a quick, irregular, twisting motion. this etymological path from sound imitation to a concrete term for a wavy line exemplifies the expressive, playful capacity of language to create words that feel like their meaning.

the word is considered a simplex form, likely formed by blending and onomatopoeic processes. it is not productively segmented into distinct, meaningful morphemes in modern english.