v. [app. echoic: cf. TEEDLE, TOODLE, TWIDDLE v.2 In sense 2, app. influenced by WHEEDLE.]
1. intr. Of a musical instrument or one who plays it: To produce a succession of shrill modulated sounds; also, to play triflingly or carelessly upon an instrument; of a bird, etc., to whistle or pipe with modulations of tone.
1684. ‘Philo Pater,’ Observ. Reproved, 2. The Replyer is only an Instrument of the Faction, the Club blows the Bagpipes, and he Tweedles.
1728. Mrs. Delany, in Life & Corr. (1861), I. 182. Yesterday I dined at the Percivals, and tweedled away upon a lovely harpsichord.
1795. Cowper, Pairing Time Anticipated, 38. Dick heard, and tweedling, ogling, bridling,… Attested, glad, his approbation.
1835. Beckford, Recoll., vii. 107. A pair of flutes most nauseously tweedled upon by two … young monks.
2. trans. To bring into some place or condition by or as by playing on an instrument in this way; to entice by or as by music; to wheedle, cajole.
1716. Addison, Freeholder, No. 3, ¶ 2. We were likewise joined by a very useful Associate, who was a fidler by profession, and brought in with him a body of lusty young fellows, whom he had tweedled into the service.
1740. Somerville, Hobbinol, I. 149. Touch The trembling Chords,… and the fond yielding Maid Is tweedled into Love.
a. 1763. Shenstone, Ess. (1765), 216. Why should he be esteemed devout … when he is tweedled into zeal by the dron pipe of an organ?
1896. Olive Schreiner, Afr. Farm, I. xii. Wheedle her, tweedle her, teedle her, but don’t let her make sure of you.
