peddle

name

1. A surname.

verb

Etymology: Back-formation from pedlar. (Compare burgle from burglar.)

1. To sell things, especially door to door or in insignificant quantities.

   “My hopes wa'n't disappointed. I never saw clams thicker than they was along them inshore flats. I filled my dreener in no time, and then it come to me that 'twouldn't be a bad idee to get a lot more, take 'em with me to Wellmouth, and peddle 'em out. Clams was fairly scarce over that side of the bay and ought to fetch a fair price.”

2. To sell illegal narcotics.

   “- How much you think this stuff is worth? - Yeah, there must be a million bucks' worth. - Think we could peddle it? - Oh, you can always get rid of it.”

3. To spread or cause to spread.

   “Christine walked a dangerous line, peddling gossip about her detested son-in-law.”

   “Roberts was a drug dealer, nicknamed 'King Krud', who peddled death and misery.”