Riddle

Rid′dle, n. [OE. ridil, AS. hridder; akin to G. reiter, L. cribrum, and to Gr. κρίνειν to distinguish, separate, and G. rein clean. See Crisis, Certain.] 1. A sieve with coarse meshes, usually of wire, for separating coarser materials from finer, as chaff from grain, cinders from ashes, or gravel from sand.

2. A board having a row of pins, set zigzag, between which wire is drawn to straighten it.

Rid′dle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Riddled; p. pr. & vb. n. Riddling.] 1. To separate, as grain from the chaff, with a riddle; to pass through a riddle; as, riddle wheat; to riddle coal or gravel.

2. To perforate so as to make like a riddle; to make many holes in; as, a house riddled with shot.

Rid′dle, n. [For riddels, s being misunderstood as the plural ending; OE. ridels, redels. AS. rǣdels; akin to D. raadsel, G. räthsel; fr. AS. rǣdan to counsel or advise, also, to guess. √116. Cf. Read.] Something proposed to be solved by guessing or conjecture; a puzzling question; an ambiguous proposition; an enigma; hence, anything ambiguous or puzzling.

To wring from me, and tell to them, my secret, That solved the riddle which I had proposed. Milton.

'T was a strange riddle of a lady. Hudibras.

Rid′dle, v. t. To explain; to solve; to unriddle.

Riddle me this, and guess him if you can. Dryden.

Rid′dle, v. i. To speak ambiguously or enigmatically. "Lysander riddels very prettily." Shak.