fickle

Meanings

Adjective

• Quick to change one’s opinion or allegiance; insincere; not loyal or reliable.
• Changeable.

Verb

• To deceive, flatter.
• To puzzle, perplex, nonplus.

Origin

• From Middle English fikil, fikel, from Old English ficol ("fickle, cunning, tricky, deceitful"), equivalent to fike + -le. More at fike.
• From Middle English fikelen, from fikel; see above. Cognate with Low German fikkelen ("to deceive, flatter"), German ficklen, ficheln.