fickle

adj

Etymology: From Middle English fikil, fikel, from Old English ficol (“fickle, cunning, tricky, deceitful”), equivalent to fike + -le. More at fike.

1. Quick to change one’s opinion or allegiance; insincere; not loyal or reliable.

   “O Fortune, Fortune, all men call thee fickle, / If thou art fickle, what doſt thou with him / That is renown'd for faith? be fickle Fortune: / For then I hope thou wilt not keepe him long, / But ſend him backe.”

   “Still onward winds the dreary way; ⁠I with it; for I long to prove ⁠No lapse of moons can canker Love, Whatever fickle tongues may say.”

2. Changeable.

   “fickle breeze”

   “fickle stock market”

name

1. A surname.

verb

Etymology: From Middle English fikelen, from fikel (“fickle”); see above. Cognate with Low German fikkelen (“to deceive, flatter”), German ficklen, ficheln (“to deceive, flatter”).

1. To deceive, flatter.
2. To puzzle, perplex, nonplus.