verb (old).—‘To go like a duck’ (B. E.), to toddle, shamble, slouch. Hence, as subs. (or WADDLING) = an ungainly walk, a WABBLING (q.v.) gait. Also derivatives: WADDLER, WADDLY, WADDLINGLY, etc.
1595. SHAKESPEARE, Romeo and Juliet, i. 3. 37.
| For then she could stand alone; nay, by the rood, | |
| She could have run and WADDLED all about. |
1605. DRAYTON, The Moon-calf.
| ‘They tread and WADDLE all the goodly grass, | |
| That in the field there scarce a corner was | |
| Left free by them.’ |
1809. IRVING, Knickerbocker History of New-York, 437. Every member WADDLED home as fast as his short legs could carry him, wheezing as he went with corpulency and terror.
1885. Daily Telegraph, 29 Sept. It knows it cannot move fast … and scorns to do more than WADDLE away moderately.
TO WADDLE OUT OF THE ALLEY, verb. phr. (old).—To make default on the Stock Exchange: cf. LAME DUCK.
1771. GARRICK, Prologue to The Maid of Bath.
| The gaming fools are doves, the knaves are rooks, | |
| Change-alley bankrupts WADDLE OUT lame ducks! |
1787. Whitehall Evening News [quoted in FRANCIS, Stock Exchange]. There were no less than 25 lame ducks who WADDLED OUT OF THE ALLEY.
1833. MARRYAT, Peter Simple, III. xxvii. He was obliged to WADDLE: if I didn’t know much about bulls and bears, I know very well what a lame duck is, to my cost.
1860. PEACOCK, Gryll Grange, xviii., note. In Stock Exchange slang, Bulls are speculators for a rise, Bears for a fall. A lame duck is a man who cannot pay his differences, and is said to WADDLE OFF.
