Puddle

subs. (old).—1.  A term of contempt: also as adj. Whence PUDDLE-POET = a gutter rhymester; a PUDDLE OF [a man, &c.] = a blundering fool.

  1665.  FULLER, The Church History of Britain, I. iii. 1. It seems the PUDDLE-POET did hope that the jingling of his rhymes would drown the sound of his false quantity.

  1782.  BURNEY, Cecilia, VII. v. I remember, when I was quite a boy, hearing her called a limping old PUDDLE.

  1834.  CARLYLE [FROUDE, Life in London, I. 16]. A foot which a PUDDLE OF a maid scalded three weeks ago.

  2.  (venery).—The female pudendum: see MONOSYLLABLE.

  Verb. (common).—To tipple: see DRINKS and SCREWED.

  2.  (old).—To muddy; to turbidize.

  1602.  SHAKESPEARE, Othello, iii. 4, 143. Hath PUDDLED his clear spirit.

  THE PUDDLE, subs. phr. (common).—1.  The Atlantic Ocean: see BIG POND, HERRING-POND, and POND; also (2), in Cornwall, the English Channel.

  1889.  Ally Sloper’s Half Holiday, 6 July. There seems to be no end to the chaff which the downy dandies across THE PUDDLE have to bear.