To speak or write at length without being clear or decisive about a topic. Can also refer to the grid-patterned breakfast food.
The verb comes from 17th century dialectal English meaning 'to bark like a dog' or 'talk foolishly.' The food sense derives from Dutch 'wafel,' ultimately from Proto-Germanic roots meaning 'honeycomb' due to its grid pattern.
The connection between indecisive speech and the breakfast food is purely coincidental - they come from completely different language families! Political 'waffling' has nothing to do with Belgian breakfast traditions.
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