whittle
whittle
UK[ˈwɪtl]US[ˈwɪtl]
v
to cut small pieces or thin slices from a piece of wood, often to shape it into something.
v
to reduce or remove something gradually.
Etymology
the word 'whittle' has a distinctly english sound and origin, tracing back to the middle english whittel, a word for a knife. this, in turn, is connected to the old english verb thwitan, meaning "to cut." the evolution from a noun for a tool to a verb describing the action of using that tool is a common linguistic process. the modern sense of gradually reducing something, as one shaves away wood, is a natural figurative extension from the literal act of carving. its journey reflects a concrete, manual activity giving rise to a broader abstract meaning.
Analysis
this word is a simplex form. it is a frequentative verb derived from middle english whittel, related to old english thwitan, meaning "to cut or strike."
Examples
he sat on the porch to whittle a piece of pine into a small animal.
we need to whittle down the list of candidates to just three.
she whittled away at the large block of cheese until only a small piece was left.