wiggle (English)

Where does "wiggle" come from?

The English noun 'wiggle' descends from Middle English 'wiglen'[1]. This Middle English form likely originated from Middle Dutch 'wigelen', meaning 'to wiggle', and perhaps also from Middle Low German 'wigelen'[1]. These continental forms trace back as frequentatives of 'wiegen', meaning 'to rock', which itself derives from 'wiege', meaning 'cradle'[1].

Open questions

• The derivation from Middle Dutch and Middle Low German forms is considered probable rather than fully certain. [1]

Full etymology tree

• wiggle (English), 'A rapid movement in alternating opposite directions, not necessarily regular.'
  • inherited wiglen (Middle English)
    • borrowed wigelen (Middle Dutch)
      • derived wiegen (Middle Dutch)
        • derived wiege (Middle Dutch)

Cognates and doublets

• wieg (Dutch)

Descendants and derived words

• get a wiggle on (English)
• squiggle (English)
• squiggle (English)
• wiggle dress (English)
• wiggle out of (English)
• wiggler (English)
• wiggle room (English)
• wiggle seat (English)
• wigglesome (English)
• wiggle worm (English)
• wiggly (English)

Sources

1. wiggle (English) - Wiktionary

Updated August 2026

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Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris