treddle

English

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈtɹɛdɫ/
• Homophone: treadle

Etymology 1

From Middle English tridel, tyrdel, from Old English tyrdel (“dropping, small piece of excrement”), diminutive of Old English tord (“piece of excrement, dung”), equivalent to turd +‎ -le.

Noun

treddle (plural treddles)

1. (UK dialectal) The dung of sheep or hares.
2. (informal) A prostitute; strumpet.

Etymology 2

Variation of treadle.

Noun

treddle (plural treddles)

1. Alternative form of treadle
   • 1871, J. Filmer Emmett, The Theory of Germs, page 6:

     In the animal or soul-world (anima, psyche) beginning with the oviparous orders, or rather with the bird-class among these, the above germal speck is, as is well known, visible, being a diminutive flake, rag or shred of skin, commonly called treddle, a pellicle floating between the yolk and the white of the egg, where it has been deposited by the male parent.

Verb

treddle (third-person singular simple present treddles, present participle treddling, simple past and past participle treddled)

1. Alternative form of treadle