a little tiddle cup

[Couch Tomato]

In Massachusetts, U.S., on the other hand, a “wayward child” is, technically, one “between seven and seventeen years of age” (who, moreover, habitually associates with vicious or immoral persons). Hugh Broughton, a writer of controversy in the reign of James the First, has proved that Rahab was a harlot at ten years of age. This is all very interesting, and I daresay you see me already frothing at the mouth in a fit; but no, I am not; I am just winking happy thoughts into a little tiddle cup.
(Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov)

What does "tiddle" mean here? This word isn't in the WR-dictionary. It's also not explained in the annotations.

Does anyone know what he means here?

Thank you in advance.

 

[exgerman]

None of the dictionary meaning seem relevant. From Merriam-Webster:

intransitive verb
1
: potter, fidget

2
chiefly New Eng : seesaw, teeter

transitive verb
dial chiefly Eng : to rear or care for with excessive solicitude : cosset, pamper

So start with the alliteration. In AE there is no difference in pronunciation between tiddle and tittle. Primarily little-tiddle is an intensified little, like itsy-bitsy or teensy-weensy.

But Nabokov also wants to tittilate. If you google "tiddle cup" (with the quotes) you'll run into a whole lots of interesting theories about what Nabokov was putting into that cup.

 

[Couch Tomato]

Thanks, exgerman.

But Nabokov also wants to tittilate. If you google "tiddle cup" (with the quotes) you'll run into a whole lots of interesting theories about what Nabokov was putting into that cup.

I'll look into it.

 

[PaulQ]

There is the game of tiddlywinks (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiddlywinks); this requires flicking (or winking) a wink (i.e. a counter) into a cup (the tiddle cup).

I suspect Nabokov is referring to metaphorically playing this game.

 

[exgerman]

I suspect Nabokov is referring to metaphorically playing this game.

I suspect that he was thinking of activities a lot less pure-minded than that.

 

[PaulQ]

I suspect that he was a lot less pure-minded than that.

Your metaphors are far too puritanical, mine are obscenely graphic.

 

[Couch Tomato]

Thank you, PaulQ.

 

[stakmoge]

In Massachusetts, U.S., on the other hand, a “wayward child” is, technically, one “between seven and seventeen years of age” (who, moreover, habitually associates with vicious or immoral persons). Hugh Broughton, a writer of controversy in the reign of James the First, has proved that Rahab was a harlot at ten years of age. This is all very interesting, and I daresay you see me already frothing at the mouth in a fit; but no, I am not; I am just winking happy thoughts into a little tiddle cup.
(Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov)

What does "tiddle" mean here? This word isn't in the WR-dictionary. It's also not explained in the annotations.

Does anyone know what he means here?

Thank you in advance.

The kindle book I'm reading has this written as 'riddle cup' but the audiobook in Jeremy Irons' voice has it as 'tiddle cup'.

 

[PaulQ]

What is a riddle cup?

Edit:
I have just found this at the University of chigcago's literary website: Spine thrilling

Sternstein read Humbert’s declaration of helplessness in resisting nymphets, ending with the line, “My little cup brims with tiddles.”
“What is a tiddle cup?” she asked the class.
Students pointed out that it evokes nursery rhymes, which often use words like “fiddle” and “diddle,” as well as the game tiddledywinks. Tiddle also means to fondle, noted Sternstein, and tiddle cup is a now-obsolete term for a container into which banquet goers would urinate, allowing for uninterrupted indulgence. So, she said, it speaks to “overindulgence in petting or fondling.”

The whole article may be helpful for those reading Nabokov.