Waffle
The noun waffle, a kind of batter-cake baked crisp in irons and served hot, came to English in 1744 from Dutch wafel and Middle Low German wafel. The term ‘waffle iron’ is from 1794. The word waffle has its origins in Proto-Germanic wabila (web, honeycomb) and the Proto-Indo-European (PIE) root (h)eubh (to weave).
PIE (h)eubh is also the root of Old English wefan (to weave; to move quickly—as in ‘to weave in and out of traffic).
The origins of the verb ‘to waffle’ have no relation to the noun waffle. The verb ‘to waffle’ comes from words meaning to bark like a puppy (1610); e.g., words like “waff waff” or “woof woof”. The verb ‘to waffle’ from the 1690s meant to yelp or to bark or, by around 1700, to talk foolishly.
By the early 19th century ‘to waffle’ meant to vacillate or equivocate.
In brief, I don’t think that there is any need to waffle over the fact that waffles are usually part of a really good breakfast or brunch.
Reference: Online Etymological Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/
PIE (h)eubh is also the root of Old English wefan (to weave; to move quickly—as in ‘to weave in and out of traffic).
The origins of the verb ‘to waffle’ have no relation to the noun waffle. The verb ‘to waffle’ comes from words meaning to bark like a puppy (1610); e.g., words like “waff waff” or “woof woof”. The verb ‘to waffle’ from the 1690s meant to yelp or to bark or, by around 1700, to talk foolishly.
By the early 19th century ‘to waffle’ meant to vacillate or equivocate.
In brief, I don’t think that there is any need to waffle over the fact that waffles are usually part of a really good breakfast or brunch.
Reference: Online Etymological Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/
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