1
Stage 1 of 3
wigelen
Dutch · medieval
"to rock, sway back and forth"
a repeated-action form of 'wiegen', to rock, itself from 'wiege' (cradle)
2
Stage 2 of 3
wiglen
Middle English · c. 1200
"to move unsteadily from side to side"
borrowed for unsteady, rocking motion
3
Stage 3 of 3
wiggle
English · 1816 onward
"to move with short, quick, irregular movements"
settled into its modern spelling once used as a noun for the motion itself
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