fiddle

n : the highest member of the violin family; this instrument has

four strings and a hollow body and an unfretted

fingerboard and is played with a bow [syn: {violin}]

v 1: play the violin or fiddle

2: manipulate manually with no purpose or aim; often without

being conscious of doing so; "She played nervously with

her wedding ring"; "Don't fiddle with the screws" [syn: {toy},

{diddle}, {play}]

diddle

1. To work with or modify in a not particularly serious

manner. "I diddled a copy of {ADVENT} so it didn't

double-space all the time." "Let's diddle this piece of code

and see if the problem goes away."

See {tweak} and {twiddle}.

2. The action or result of diddling.

See also {tweak}, {twiddle}, {frob}.

[{Jargon File}]

(1995-01-31)