5 entries under this word
(rīd'dl), n. [A-S. hriddel, N. H. Ger. rädel, räder, O. H. Ger. ritra, riterra, a sieve; H. & Prov. Ger. räden, raden, raiten, rädeln, rädern, reitern, retern, O. H. Ger. ritarôn, A-S. hridrian, to sift, winnow; hridder, a fan for corn. Cf. REE.] A sieve with coarse meshes, usually of wire, for separating coarser materials from finer, as chaff from grain, cinders from ashes, gravel from sand, and the like.
(rĭd'dl), v. t. [imp. & p. p. RIDDLED; p. pr. & vb. n. RIDDLING.]
n. [A-S. rædels, D. raadsel, N. H. Ger. räthsel, M. H. Ger. rätsal, rätsel, rätelnisse, O. H. Ger. râtisal, râtsal, râdisli, râdislo, rátissa, râtussa, râtisca, from A-S. rædan, D. raaden, Ger. rathen, to counsel or advise, also to guess. Cf. READ.] 1. Something proposed for conjecture, or that is to be solved by conjecture; a puzzling question; an ambiguous proposition; an enigma. *To wring from me and tell to them my secret, That solved the riddle which I had proposed.* Milton. 2. Any thing ambiguous or puzzling. 'Twas a strange riddle of a lady. Hudibras.
To solve; to explain; to unriddle. Riddle me this, and guess him if you can. Dryden.
To speak ambiguously, obscurely, or enigmatically. Lysander riddles very prettily. Shak.