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Niggle vs Piggle - What's the difference?

niggle | piggle |

As nouns the difference between niggle and piggle

is that niggle is a minor complaint or problem while piggle is (rare) a long-handled fork for mixing or digging.

As verbs the difference between niggle and piggle

is that niggle is to trifle with; to deceive; to mock while piggle is to dig or uproot; to scrape.

niggle

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • A minor complaint or problem.
  • * 2012 , The Guardian, London 2012: Christian Taylor aims high as Phillips Idowu stays away , by Anna Kessel
    • The Olympic medal contender's back problem has been described as a "niggle " by the head coach, Charles van Commenee, but Porter's friend and former team-mate Danielle Carruthers revealed that the injury is playing on the Briton's mind.
  • (obsolete) Small, cramped handwriting.

    • Verb

    (niggl)
  • To trifle with; to deceive; to mock.
    • (Beaumont and Fletcher)
  • To dwell too much on minor points.
  • To fidget, fiddle, be restless.

    • Derived terms

    * niggly

    Anagrams

    *

    piggle

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (rare) A long-handled fork for mixing or digging.
  • * 1859 , Murray's Handbook for Devon and Cornwall page 244:
    • A heap of it is then placed upon an inclined platform, under a small fall of water, and repeatedly stirred with a piggle and shovel...

    Verb

    (en-verb)
  • To dig or uproot; to scrape.
  • * 1841 , Charles Hooton, Colin Clink page 140:
    • I took my revenge on th' round-house, for I piggled all th' plaster off o' the walls that I could...
  • To toy with or fiddle.
  • * 1876 , Alfred Dawson, English Landscape Art, in its Position and Prospects page 16:
    • Then all nature was presently converted into an object for microscopic study, so that everything, whether near or far, must be piggled at and made clear to the utmost limit of human power.
  • * 1922 , D.H. Lawrence, The Fox page 48:
    • Banford, at the other end of the table, said not a word, but piggled with the sardine on her plate.
  • To cause to worry, to make uncomfortable; niggle.
  • * 1899 , David Belasco, "Naughty Anthony":
    • BUDD. Get up yourself, and shut up, too! You have piggled me enough, you old smooty-snoot!
  • To worry about minor points.
  • * 1836 , Joanna Baillee, "The Alienated Manor: A Comedy":
    • But of what value is all that piggling , niggling, — you call the little thing piggling, niggling?

    See also

    * higgledy-piggledy