NIGGLE • DICTIONARY ONE.COM • Definition of Niggle

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verb

Niggle v. t. (past & past part. niggled; pres. part. niggling) To trifle with; to deceive; to mock. (Obs.)

Niggle v. t.

To use, spend, or do in a petty or trifling manner.

To elaborate excessively, as in art.

Niggle v. i.

To trifle or play. "Take heed, daughter, You niggle not with your conscience and religion."

To act or walk mincingly. (Prov. Eng.)

To fret and snarl about trifles. (Prov. Eng.)

(Chiefly Eng.) To move about restlessly or without result; to fidget.

To be finicky or excessively critical; to potter; esp., to work with excessive care for trifling details, as in painting.

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Etymology of 'Niggle'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Niggle" Quotes from Famous Books

... these organizations. That's why the Suffragists have never done anything all these years. What's the point of drawing-room meetings and bazaars? You want to have ideas, Mary; get hold of something big; never mind making mistakes, but don't niggle. Why don't you throw it all up for a year, and travel?—see something of the world. Don't be content to live with half a dozen people in a backwater all your life. But ...

— Night and Day • Virginia Woolf

... outcome of several Years and sold for several Thousands! What Man with the Elements of a Great Painter could come out with such a costive Thing after so long waiting! Think of the Acres of Canvas Titian or Reynolds would have covered with grand Outlines and deep Colours in the Time it has taken to niggle this Miniature! The Christ seemed to me only a wayward Boy: the Jews, Jews no doubt: the Temple I dare say very correct in its Detail: but think of even Rembrandt's Woman in Adultery at the National Gallery; a much smaller Picture, but how much vaster in Space and Feeling! Hunt's Picture stifled ...

— Letters of Edward FitzGerald in Two Volumes - Vol. II • Edward FitzGerald

... "Well," said Mr. Niggle's (which, I learned from his emblazoned door-posts was the name of my respectable master), "be as careful about these as you can. I am afraid it's through some of our money that that young ...

— The International Monthly, Volume 3, No. 1, April, 1851 • Various

... you,' Innes said, slowly; 'I won't niggle about it. The people of this place—idiots!—are unable to believe that a man and a woman can be to ...

— The Pool in the Desert • Sara Jeannette Duncan

... these buts!" This was what he called "niggling." It was on the tip of his tongue to say, "Why niggle about the thing?" but he recollected his purpose; that was him all over and that was just it! He said brightly, "Let him. Do him good. The idea suddenly came to me as a bit of a lark to have an unexpected holiday with you, and I ...

— If Winter Comes • A.S.M. Hutchinson