Tootles

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. Produces short, gentle blasts on a horn or whistle ; moves along at a relaxed, unhurried pace, often in a vehicle
2. Sounds a horn or whistle softly and repeatedly ; goes somewhere in an easygoing, leisurely fashion
3. Plays a horn or whistle in brief, mellow notes ; ambles or drives along in a carefree and leisurely manner

Etymology: "Tootles" is the third-person singular form of "tootle", so the story belongs to the verb itself. "Tootle" is "toot" with the suffix "-le", a frequentative ending that marks repeated or ongoing action. Toot, the sound of a horn or whistle, is imitative, so "tootle" describes that sound repeated again and again, in short bursts. Over time the verb drifted from the sharp blast of a horn toward a lighter, more casual activity. To tootle now means to travel in a leisurely way, making small, cheerful toots along the road. The sense of gentle, repeated, unhurried motion comes straight from that frequentative ending.

Synonyms: toot, putter, potter