dabblement

plural dabblements

1. countableuncountableThe process or act of dabbling; A superficial investigation or participation.

   But let us leave these dabblements in acoustics, and come on to a second waterfall, which is, to my mind, as beautiful as the first is magnificent.

   1840, Chauncy Hare Townshend, A descriptive tour in Scotland, page 298

   2 more examples

   Even the other day, at the Patencheru Camp, the hon. Minister for Co-operation speaking on the co-operative movement said that he was feeling sorry that politics dabbled with the co-operative movement and that the co-operative movement is not doing proper work on account of this political dabblement.

   1959, Andhra Pradesh, Debates; Official Report: (India) Legislative Assembly, page 6

   Though he seldom in his final years even hinted at bebop, Miles's last years were dominated by the blues, a recognition that still hasn't filtered through his dabblement with pop and hip-hop.

   2004, Richard Cook, Brian Morton, The Penguin guide to jazz on CD, page 406

2. countableobsoleteuncountableA somewhat wet concentration of mud, paint, water, gore, etc.

   I returned, near broken-down utterly, at the set time; and alas, was met by a foul dabblement of paint oozing downstairs; the painters had proved treacherous to her; time could not be kept!

   1881, Thomas Carlyle, Reminiscences

   3 more examples

   The bustling spirit which animated Mrs. Mulligan was this day particularly restless, as if to heighten the effect of her strange visitor's inertia; scouring and dusting were carried on with might and main; half the kitchen was submerged, amphibious Katy floating in the dabblement, and never relaxing but to give her guest a stare, which would have frightened any animal but a German Frau.

   1840, Isabella Steward, The interdict, page 114

   Already victor, whom on slippery ground, Drench'd with the blood of victims newly slain, He stumbled, luckless man; his footing lost, Prone on the turf amid the dabblement Of mud and gore he fell;

   1861, The work of Virgil: Transl. by Charles Rann Kennedy, page 236

   On one occasion, not long ago, when the sport took place in Jedburgh, the contending parties, after a struggle of two hours in the streets, transferred the contention to the bed of the river Jed, and there fought it out amidst a scene of fearful splash and dabblement, to the infinite amusement of the multitude, looking on from the bridge.

   1895, Laurence Hutton, Other Times and Other Seasons, page 9