noun
diddle
a meaningless syllable used in a song or rhythmic phrase
The children sing “hey diddle diddle” as they clap.
Etymology
Diddle is a conventional nonsense syllable used to fill out rhythm in songs and playful phrases. Its sound serves the pattern rather than contributing an ordinary lexical meaning.
More examples
- She adds a cheerful “diddle” between lines of the song.
- The chorus ends with two quick diddles.
- We chant “diddle, dum, dee” to keep the rhythm.
Forms
diddle · diddles