v. ? dial. [In sense 1 echoic (cf. TEEDLE, TOOTLE).]
1. intr. To hum or sing in a low tone (as to a baby).
1865. W. G. Wills, D. Chantrey, xxxii. III. 140. She shall have the toodling and the cooing and a sequestered spot, and be spared these foolish accessions of nerves.
2. See quot. 1904. [perh. a different word.]
1890. A. Lang, Sir S. Northcote, I. i. 11. In winter [at Eton] they ‘toodled.’
1904. J. A. Thomson, Eighty Years’ Reminiscences, I. i. 19. [At Eton in 1832] One of our great amusements in winter was toodling—hunting birds in the hedges and chasing them till they were blown, when we captured them.
So Toodle-loodle; † toodle-toodle [cf. Ger. dudeldudel], an imitation of the sound of a pipe or flute; toodle-pipe, a pipe making such a sound.
1542. Udall, Erasm. Apoph., 223 b. His instrumente wheron to plaie toodle loodle bagpipe. Ibid. (a. 1553), Royster D., II. i. (Arb.), 32. Then to our recorder with toodleloodle poope As the howlet out of an yuie bushe should hoope.
a. 1566. R. Edwards, Damon & Pithias (1571), F iv b. Wyll singes, Too nidden, and toodle toodle doo nidden. Ibid., G j. Todle todle.
1890. Doyle, White Company, xviii. A Scotch army, where every man fills himself with girdle-cakes, and sits up all night to blow upon the toodle-pipe.
