fidge

fidge

English

Alternative forms

• fitch

Etymology

Probably an assibilated form of Middle English fiken (“to jitter; move restlessly; hustle; flinch; hasten away”), perhaps related to Old English befician (“to deceive”) or from Old Norse fika (“to climb up nimbly, as a spider”), akin to Norwegian fika (“to strive after”), Swedish fika (“to strive for; hurry”). See also fike.

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ɪdʒ

Verb

fidge (third-person singular simple present fidges, present participle fidging, simple past and past participle fidged)

1. (obsolete, dialectal, Scotland) To fidget; jostle or shake.
   • 1883, Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island

     "Look, Jim, how my fingers fidges," he continued in the pleading tone. "I can't keep 'em still, not I. I haven't had a drop this blessed day. That doctor's a fool, I tell you. If I don't have a dram o' rum, Jim, I'll have the horrors..."

Noun

fidge (plural fidges)

1. (obsolete, dialectal, Scotland) A shake; fiddle or similar agitation.

Related terms

• fidget

Anagrams

• GIFed