v. slang. Also 8 whidle, whidel, widdle. [? f. WHID sb.1] intr. a. To divulge a secret, turn informer, ‘peach.’ b. See quot. 1725. Hence Whiddler.
c. 1661. Marq. Argyle’s Last Will, in Harl. Misc. (1746), VIII. 28/1. I understand … he hath made so large a Progress in Discovering, that he can pay it now to himself—The Devil was in me to suffer such a pitiful Fellow to whiddle before me.
a. 1700. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, Whiddler, a Peacher (or rather Impeacher) of his Gang.
1725. New Cant. Dict., To Whiddle, to enter into a Parley, to compound with, or take off by a Bribe.
1756. J. Cox, Narr. Thief-takers, 66. The Prisoner … then swore he wished he had cut off his Head, for then he would not have whidelled again.
1781. G. Parker, View Soc., II. 133. About Darkey [i.e., twilight], or when Oliver don’t widdle [footn. The Moon not up].
1812. J. H. Vaux, Flash Dict., s.v., Don’t you whiddle about so and so, that is, don’t mention it.
