thwittle

present singular third person thwittles · participle present thwittling · participle past thwittled · past thwittled

1. obsoleteTo cut or whittle.

   your Absolute Certainty would be thwittled into sufficient Certainty

   1688, John Sergeant, Five Catholick Letters […]

plural thwittles

1. obsoleteA small knife; a whittle.

   The butcher stood in the door-way, beating time with his thwittle, and humming[…]

   1879, Edwin Waugh, “The Swallowed Sixpence”, in The Chimney Corner, page 44

   2 more examples

   Merc. […]And that in Jove's great dining Room, We were with each one a good thwittle Again set down to swill, and vittle, Provided (Signior) do you see, That you should not the Carver be[…]

   1675, Lucian of Samosata, translated by Charles Cotton, Burlesque upon burlesque, page 32

   “Marry, what is't?” cried one fellow[…]“Is't a thwittle shaft?” “Ay, or it may be the half of a shuttle,” said another; “dost note, it tapers to the end, and is biggest i' the middle? I warrant Saint Dunstan was a clothier, and made many an ell of stout broella.” “'Tis more like he was a butcher,” cried one of that fraternity, “if ye go by likes; for 'tis the very model of a thwittle shaft, and white ash to boot.”

   1822, William Bennett, Malpas, volume 1, pages 300–301