Tottle

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To move or work in a slow, plodding manner with little progress or energy
2. To proceed at a sluggish pace, moving with effort and deliberation through a task
3. To labor along gradually and tediously, advancing without speed or vigor

Etymology: "Tottle" is linked to three different sources. One is a blend of "tube" and "bottle", two existing words merged into a single new form, so the result carries something of both. A second connection is to "toddle" and "totter", which share a sense of unsteady, swaying movement. Comparing the word with these two suggests a family of words describing small, wobbly steps. The third source given is "total", which ties the word to the idea of a whole or sum. These origins do not converge on one line of descent, so the word is best understood as a combination of several separate influences.