®óñ© © ² * ¹°°³ wrote:
On 3 Oct 2006 07:00:01 -0700, "Cat(h)" wrote and
included this (or some of this):


Meriam-Webster

Main Entry: 2whittle
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): whit·tled; whit·tling /'hwit-li[ng], 'wit-;
'hwi-t&l-i[ng], 'wi-/
transitive verb
1 a : to pare or cut off chips from the surface of (wood) with a knife
b : to shape or form by so paring or cutting
2 : to reduce, remove, or destroy gradually as if by cutting off bits
with a knife : PARE whittle down expenses
intransitive verb
1 : to cut or shape something (as wood) by or as if by paring it with
a knife
2 : to wear oneself or another out with fretting
- whit·tler /'hwit-l&r, 'wit-; 'hwi-t&l-&r, 'wi-/ noun 1



OK, so I'll go and fret madly in the viscinity of my ceanothus with a
paring knife to reduce its size gradually. If the neighbours ask
difficult questions, I'll just tell them I got very expert advice.
That works for me :-)

Cat