fangle

Meanings

Verb

• To fashion, manufacture, invent, or create.
• To trim showily; entangle; hang about.
• To waste time; trifle.

Noun

• A prop; a taking up; a new thing.
• Something newly fashioned; a novelty, a new fancy.
• A foolish innovation; a gewgaw; a trifling ornament.
• A conceit; whim.

Origin

• From Middle English fangelen, from fangel, from Old English ("inclined to take"), from fōn. Compare Old English andfangol ("undertaker, contractor"), Old English underfangelnes ("undertaking, hospitality"), Middle English fangen ("to take, seize, catch"), German fangen ("to catch"). More at fang, onfang.
• Back formation from newfangled as if new + fangle. See newfangle.