dial. [Perh. an altered form of WAGGLE v., due to the influence of the dial. wankle to totter (app. rare) or of its source WANKLE a. (OE. wancol) unsteady, tottering. Cf. Norw. vangla to roam about, (of weather) to be unsteady.] intr. Of a thing: To move loosely or shakily on its base or in its place of attachment. Of a person: To go unsteadily.
1820. Wilbraham, Chesh. Gloss., Wangle, to totter or vibrate. See Junius in voce, wanckle.
1841. Hartshorne, Salop. Ant., Gloss., Wangle, to be unsteady, totter.
1868. Atkinson, Cleveland Gloss., Wangle, to totter, or shake to its fall; of a wall, building, &c.
1869. Lonsdale Gloss., Wangle, to totter, to walk feebly.
1876. Mid-Yorksh. Gloss., Wangle, to rock, or shake, noisily.
1892. M. C. F. Morris, Yorksh. Folk-Talk, Gloss., Wangle, to shake, to totter, to waver; to be in a sensitive state…. Ex.—Thoo mun put it varry wangling (in setting a trap).
Hence Wangling ppl. a. (in quot. app. ‘rambling’). Also Wangler.
1869. G. J. Chester, Transatl. Sk., 325. The old gentleman in the pulpit meanwhile drawling out a long, wangling, extempore prayer.
1876. Whitby Gloss., Wangler, an unstable person.
