Emily Dickinson Lexicon

RID'DLE, n.¹ [Sax. hriddel; W. rhidyll, from rhidiaw, to secrete, to separate; Corn. ridar or krodar; Arm. ridell or croezr; Ir. criathar, a riddle; cratham, to shake; G. rütteln, to shake, to riddle; W. crydu, to shake; allied to rid and to cradle, from driving. See Cradle.]

An instrument for cleaning grain, being a large sieve with a perforated bottom, which permits the grain to pass through it, but retains the chaff.