The noun is borrowed from Dutch wafel (“waffle; wafer”), from Middle Dutch wafel, wafele, wavel, from Old Dutch *wāvila, from Proto-Germanic *wēbilǭ, *wēbilō, possibly related to Proto-Indo-European *webʰ- (“to braid, weave”) (whence Dutch weven (“to weave”) and English weave; compare, from the same verbal root, German Wabe (“honeycomb”), given that the grid pattern of the traditional Dutch lent and holiday pastry strikingly resembles a honeycomb), and possibly reinforced by German Waffel (“waffle; wafer”). The English word is a doublet of wafer and gauffre.
The verb (“to smash”) derives from the manner in which batter is pressed into the shape of a waffle between the two halves of a waffle iron.
Meanings
A flat pastry pressed with a grid pattern, often eaten hot with butter and/or honey or syrup.
This takeaway counter serves up some of Hong Kong's best eggettes, the egg-shaped waffles beloved by local children and adults alike. 2017, Piera Chen, Emily Matchar, Lonely Planet Pocket Hong Kong:
The brunch was waffles with strawberries and whipped cream.
(UK) In full potato waffle: a savoury flat potato cake with the same kind of grid pattern.
(also, attributive) A concrete slab used in flooring with a gridlike structure of ribs running at right angles to each other on its underside.
Both joists and slab are cast in place to form a monolithic unit, integral with the supporting beams and columns. The joists form a characteristic waffle pattern on the underside. Structural design of joist construction: one-way or waffle flat slab […] 1970, Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute, Manual of Standard Practice:
In one-way (pan joist) and two-way (waffle) joist construction, a similar layout is usually adopted. 2008, Edward G. Nawy, Concrete Construction Engineering Handbook, CRC Press, →ISBN, page 9:
The most widely used type of waffle construction is the waffle flat slab, in which solid portions around column supports are […] These beams may be produced as projections below the waffle, as shown […] 1993, Harry Parker, James Ambrose, Simplified Engineering for Architects and Builders:
(attributive) A type of fabric woven with a honeycomb texture.
nb vaffel (flat pastry pressed with a grid pattern) · pl gofr (flat pastry pressed with a grid pattern) · yi וואַפֿליע (flat pastry pressed with a grid pattern) · ar وَافِل (flat pastry pressed with a grid pattern) · yue 格仔餅 /格仔饼 (flat pastry pressed with a grid pattern) · wa wåfe (flat pastry pressed with a grid pattern) · it ferratella (flat pastry pressed with a grid pattern) · ja ワッフル (flat pastry pressed with a grid pattern) · el βάφλα (flat pastry pressed with a grid pattern) · cmn 華夫 /华夫 (flat pastry pressed with a grid pattern) · bg картофена гофрета (savoury flat potato cake with the same kind of grid pattern) · cmn 窩夫 /窝夫 (flat pastry pressed with a grid pattern) · da vaffel (flat pastry pressed with a grid pattern) · uk ва́фля (flat pastry pressed with a grid pattern) · pt gofre (flat pastry pressed with a grid pattern) · id wafel (flat pastry pressed with a grid pattern) · cy waffl (flat pastry pressed with a grid pattern) · de Waffel (flat pastry pressed with a grid pattern) · lb Eisekuch (flat pastry pressed with a grid pattern) · fi vohveli (flat pastry pressed with a grid pattern) · eo vaflo (flat pastry pressed with a grid pattern) · fr gaufre (flat pastry pressed with a grid pattern) · cs vafle (flat pastry pressed with a grid pattern) · ga vaiféal (flat pastry pressed with a grid pattern) · ru ва́фля (flat pastry pressed with a grid pattern) · hu gofri (flat pastry pressed with a grid pattern) · sh vafl (flat pastry pressed with a grid pattern) · es waffle (flat pastry pressed with a grid pattern) · cmn 鬆餅 /松饼 (flat pastry pressed with a grid pattern) · lv vafele (flat pastry pressed with a grid pattern) · et vahvel (flat pastry pressed with a grid pattern) · mk вафла (flat pastry pressed with a grid pattern) · ms wafel (flat pastry pressed with a grid pattern) · be ва́фля (flat pastry pressed with a grid pattern) · is vaffla (flat pastry pressed with a grid pattern) · ca gofra (flat pastry pressed with a grid pattern) · ko 와플 (flat pastry pressed with a grid pattern) · km នំពុម្ព (flat pastry pressed with a grid pattern) · lb Gaufre (flat pastry pressed with a grid pattern) · pt waffle (flat pastry pressed with a grid pattern) · es wafle (flat pastry pressed with a grid pattern) · hy վաֆլի (flat pastry pressed with a grid pattern) · es gofre (flat pastry pressed with a grid pattern) · bg гофрѐта (flat pastry pressed with a grid pattern) · es guafle (flat pastry pressed with a grid pattern) · nn vaffel (flat pastry pressed with a grid pattern) · pdt Wofel (flat pastry pressed with a grid pattern) · nl wafel (flat pastry pressed with a grid pattern) · io vaflo (flat pastry pressed with a grid pattern) · sv våffla (flat pastry pressed with a grid pattern)
The noun is borrowed from Dutch wafel (“waffle; wafer”), from Middle Dutch wafel, wafele, wavel, from Old Dutch *wāvila, from Proto-Germanic *wēbilǭ, *wēbilō, possibly related to Proto-Indo-European *webʰ- (“to braid, weave”) (whence Dutch weven (“to weave”) and English weave; compare, from the same verbal root, German Wabe (“honeycomb”), given that the grid pattern of the traditional Dutch lent and holiday pastry strikingly resembles a honeycomb), and possibly reinforced by German Waffel (“waffle; wafer”). The English word is a doublet of wafer and gauffre.
The verb (“to smash”) derives from the manner in which batter is pressed into the shape of a waffle between the two halves of a waffle iron.
Meanings
(slang, transitive) To smash (something).
These were not the Cowboys who were waffled, 45–14, here at mid-season. They came prepared to play a championship football game, with an ultra-conservative game plan suited to the horrendous turf conditions, and came close to pulling it off … 1997, Bill Conlin, Kevin Kerrane (editor), "Batting cleanup, Bill Conlin", page 121
The cab was waffled in between the two, Marsh never having a prayer or even a full comprehension of what happened to him. He was crushed flat, never even hearing the deafening screech of metal. 1995, Peter Allen David, The Incredible Hulk: What savage beast:
Bednarik, however, says the play became legendary only because of the circumstances. "I did it [...] to the top honcho. He just happened to be there and the pass was thrown to him. I waffled him cleanly." [...] "He just cold-cocked Frank," said linebacker Bob Pellegrini, whose injury sent Bednarik into the game to play defense. 2006, Gordon Forbes, Tales from the Eagles Sideline, updated edition, page 2:
Then I waffled him and knocked him down. Why I cut myself open with the razor, I'm not completely sure. I was like the idiot in a bar who gets all worked up and smashes a bottle over his head [...] 2005, Shawn Michaels, with Aaron Feigenbaum, Heartbreak & Triumph: The Shawn Michaels Story, page 47:
The verb is borrowed from Scots waffle (“to waver, flap, flutter”), from waff (“to wag, wave; to flap, flutter”) + -le (diminutive or frequentative suffix), from Middle Scots waff (“signal; gust of wind; glimpse; a flapping, waving”), from Northern Middle English wafe, waffe, a variant of waven (“to move to and fro, sway; to stray, wander; (figuratively) to follow a weaving course; (figuratively) to vacillate, waver; to move something to and fro, wave”) (whence wave), from Old English wafian (“to wave”), from Proto-Germanic *wabōną, *wabjaną (“to sway; to wander”), from Proto-Indo-European *webʰ- (“to braid, weave”).
Regarding sense 5 (“to speak or write (something) at length without any clear aim or point”), compare Old English wæflian (“to talk foolishly”), possibly ultimately from Proto-Germanic *babalōną (“to babble, chatter”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰā- (“to say”) and/or Proto-Indo-European *baba- (“to talk vaguely; to mumble”). The Oxford English Dictionary does not derive the English word waffle from this Old English word. Compare also Dutch wauwelen (“to linger, waffle, jabber, gab, chat”).
The noun is derived from the verb.
Meanings
(colloquial, uncountable) (Often lengthy) speech or writing that is evasive or vague, or pretentious.
This interesting point seems to get lost a little within a lot of self-important waffle.
hu rizsa ((often lengthy) speech or writing that is evasive or vague, or pretentious) · fi jaarittelu ((often lengthy) speech or writing that is evasive or vague, or pretentious) · hu szövegelés ((often lengthy) speech or writing that is evasive or vague, or pretentious) · hu mellébeszélés ((often lengthy) speech or writing that is evasive or vague, or pretentious) · pt palração ((often lengthy) speech or writing that is evasive or vague, or pretentious) · hu sóder ((often lengthy) speech or writing that is evasive or vague, or pretentious) · mi waha hakirara ((often lengthy) speech or writing that is evasive or vague, or pretentious) · is bull ((often lengthy) speech or writing that is evasive or vague, or pretentious) · hu hanta ((often lengthy) speech or writing that is evasive or vague, or pretentious) · cy waffl ((often lengthy) speech or writing that is evasive or vague, or pretentious) · bg шикалкавене ((often lengthy) speech or writing that is evasive or vague, or pretentious) · hu süketelés ((often lengthy) speech or writing that is evasive or vague, or pretentious) · ko 거만한 말 ((often lengthy) speech or writing that is evasive or vague, or pretentious) · gl palla ((often lengthy) speech or writing that is evasive or vague, or pretentious) · pt palrança ((often lengthy) speech or writing that is evasive or vague, or pretentious) · pl wodolejstwo ((often lengthy) speech or writing that is evasive or vague, or pretentious) · de Geschwafel ((often lengthy) speech or writing that is evasive or vague, or pretentious) · hu halandzsa ((often lengthy) speech or writing that is evasive or vague, or pretentious) · nl wollige taal ((often lengthy) speech or writing that is evasive or vague, or pretentious) · is þvaður ((often lengthy) speech or writing that is evasive or vague, or pretentious) · nl gezwam ((often lengthy) speech or writing that is evasive or vague, or pretentious) · ja むだ口 ((often lengthy) speech or writing that is evasive or vague, or pretentious) · fi jaaritus ((often lengthy) speech or writing that is evasive or vague, or pretentious) · et loba ((often lengthy) speech or writing that is evasive or vague, or pretentious) · de leere Phrasen ((often lengthy) speech or writing that is evasive or vague, or pretentious) · pt palha ((often lengthy) speech or writing that is evasive or vague, or pretentious) · fr langue de bois ((often lengthy) speech or writing that is evasive or vague, or pretentious) · hu duma ((often lengthy) speech or writing that is evasive or vague, or pretentious)
The verb is borrowed from Scots waffle (“to waver, flap, flutter”), from waff (“to wag, wave; to flap, flutter”) + -le (diminutive or frequentative suffix), from Middle Scots waff (“signal; gust of wind; glimpse; a flapping, waving”), from Northern Middle English wafe, waffe, a variant of waven (“to move to and fro, sway; to stray, wander; (figuratively) to follow a weaving course; (figuratively) to vacillate, waver; to move something to and fro, wave”) (whence wave), from Old English wafian (“to wave”), from Proto-Germanic *wabōną, *wabjaną (“to sway; to wander”), from Proto-Indo-European *webʰ- (“to braid, weave”).
Regarding sense 5 (“to speak or write (something) at length without any clear aim or point”), compare Old English wæflian (“to talk foolishly”), possibly ultimately from Proto-Germanic *babalōną (“to babble, chatter”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰā- (“to say”) and/or Proto-Indo-European *baba- (“to talk vaguely; to mumble”). The Oxford English Dictionary does not derive the English word waffle from this Old English word. Compare also Dutch wauwelen (“to linger, waffle, jabber, gab, chat”).
The noun is derived from the verb.
Meanings
(UK, intransitive) To speak or write evasively or vaguely.
Again the answer was "waffled," for this did not say that no air units had been alerted. Only that none had been "identified." Moreover, the reply concerned air "unit[s]" as opposed to "air craft". 1970, John Galloway, The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, page 115:
He waffled on for much of the earnings call without addressing the fall in share price.
(intransitive) Of a bird: to move in a side-to-side motion while descending before landing.
The geese waffled as they approached the water.
(colloquial, intransitive) Of an aircraft or motor vehicle: to travel in a slow and unhurried manner.
(Scotland, colloquial, intransitive) To be indecisive about something; to dither, to vacillate, to waver.
A source close to Altman says the board had agreed in principle to resign and to allow Altman and Brockman to return, but has since waffled — missing a key 5PM PT deadline by which many OpenAI staffers were set to resign. 2023 November 18, Nilay Patel, “OpenAI board in discussions with Sam Altman to return as CEO”, in The Verge:
But as Germany struggles to overcome its post-World War II reluctance to lead on security matters in Europe and set aside its instinct to accommodate rather than confront Russia, Europe’s most pivotal country has waffled in the first crucial test for the new government of Chancellor Olaf Scholz. 2022 January 25, Katrin Bennhold, “Where Is Germany in the Ukraine Standoff? Its Allies Wonder.”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:
I waffled between going to the deposition and going to the doctor's. Wishing Barbara was there, I decided to call the doctor afterward. 2011, Tony Hefner, Between the Fences:
(ambitransitive) Often followed by on: to speak or write (something) at length without any clear aim or point; to ramble.
She waffled on for ages. Usually I'd say something smart or make it obvious that I wasn't interested and couldn't be bothered listening. 2005, Bill Condon, No Worries, Univ. of Queensland Press, page 78:
Before getting down to the nitty gritty of beekeeping, most contributors to BBJ like to waffle on for a bit about the weather, the state of their garden or something equally inconsequential. 1984, “Apiary Antics- No.5”, in British bee journal, volumes 112-113, page 68:
Unless you have a great line in gags or repartee don't waffle on aimlessly to your audience, or make in-jokes among yourselves, the band or the compere/DJ. 1976, Tony Hatch, So you want to be in the music business, Everest Books, page 68:
The whole thing ended suddenly when the hotel manager arrived. He waffled on for a bit; this settled everyone down. 2006, Carl Storm, A Mighty Fine Way to Live and Die, Backstrap Ltd, page 8:
(transitive) To hold horizontally and rotate (one's hand) back and forth in a gesture of ambivalence or vacillation.
“[…] You get anything useful on the background checks?” / He waffled his hand. “Nothing like what you brought back, but still some interesting notes.[…]” 2007, Michael Koryta, Sorrow’s Anthem, Macmillan, →ISBN, page 146:
bg шикалкавя (to speak or write evasively or vaguely) · hu szövegel (to speak or write (something) at length without any clear aim or point — see also ramble) · bg тътря се (of an aircraft or motor vehicle: to travel in a slow and unhurried manner) · nl zwammen (to speak or write (something) at length without any clear aim or point — see also ramble) · hu nyomja a sódert (to speak or write (something) at length without any clear aim or point — see also ramble) · nl zwetsen (to speak or write evasively or vaguely) · de schwafeln (to speak or write evasively or vaguely) · mi hākirikiri (to speak or write evasively or vaguely) · bg бъбря (to speak or write (something) at length without any clear aim or point — see also ramble) · bg ломотя (to speak or write (something) at length without any clear aim or point — see also ramble) · cy wafflo (to speak or write evasively or vaguely) · hu hantázik (to speak or write (something) at length without any clear aim or point — see also ramble) · hu halandzsázik (to speak or write (something) at length without any clear aim or point — see also ramble) · hi हड़बड़ाना (to speak or write (something) at length without any clear aim or point — see also ramble) · hu rizsál (to speak or write (something) at length without any clear aim or point — see also ramble) · pt palrar (to speak or write (something) at length without any clear aim or point — see also ramble) · hu mellébeszél (to speak or write (something) at length without any clear aim or point — see also ramble) · mi waha hakirara (to speak or write evasively or vaguely) · hu süketel (to speak or write (something) at length without any clear aim or point — see also ramble) · hu rizsázik (to speak or write (something) at length without any clear aim or point — see also ramble) · es divagar (to speak or write (something) at length without any clear aim or point — see also ramble) · it blaterare ciarlare cianciare (to speak or write (something) at length without any clear aim or point — see also ramble) · ru трепа́ться без то́лку (to speak or write (something) at length without any clear aim or point — see also ramble) · de schwafeln (to speak or write (something) at length without any clear aim or point — see also ramble) · ru лить во́ду (to speak or write (something) at length without any clear aim or point — see also ramble) · ru болта́ть по́пусту (to speak or write (something) at length without any clear aim or point — see also ramble) · hi डगमगाना (to speak or write evasively or vaguely) · ja ごちゃごちゃ言う (to speak or write (something) at length without any clear aim or point — see also ramble) · de gemächlich dahingleiten (of an aircraft or motor vehicle: to travel in a slow and unhurried manner)