| E. Cobham Brewer 18101897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898. |
| | | Addle | | |
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is the Old English adela (filth), hence rotten, putrid, worthless. | 1 |
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Addled egg, better addle-egg, a worthless egg. An egg which has not the vital principle. | 2 |
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Addle - headed, addle - pate, empty-headed. As an addle-egg produces no living bird, so an addle-pate lacks brains. | 3 |
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Addle Parliament (The)5th April to 7th June, 1614. So called because it did not pass one single measure. (See PARLIAMENT.) | 4 |
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