whittling

== English == === Verb === whittling present participle and gerund of whittle === Noun === whittling (plural whittlings) (usually in the plural) A chip or shaving whittled from some larger substance. The art of carving shapes out of raw wood using a knife. Coordinate terms: woodcarving, wood carving A process of repeatedly shaving slivers from a piece of wood (non-artistic). (figurative, by extension) The reducing of something by degrees, especially at the expense of some effort.