noodle
v.— «Sheriff Thomas Johnstone said Hargraves was noodling (attempting to catch fish bare-handed) when he apparently stepped into a deep hole in Salt Fork River.» —“Warnings Issued After 3 State Fishermen Drown” Daily Oklahoman (Oklahoma City) May 11, 1982. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
A flashlight doesn’t flash. It provides a steady beam of light. So why is it called a flashlight? The earliest versions lit up only briefly before the batteries gave out and required a recharge, so they were literally “flash lights...
National Book Award winner Barry Lopez had wise advice for young writers. First, read widely and follow your curiosity. Second, travel or learn a foreign language. And third, find out what you truly believe, because if you’re not writing from...