Brewer's: Addle

is the Old English adela (filth), hence rotten, putrid, worthless.

Addled egg
(“addle-egg”)

A worthless egg. An egg which has not the vital principle.

Addle-headed, addle-pate, empty headed

As an addle-egg produces no living bird, so an addle-pate lack brains.

(The) Addle Parliament (The)

5th April to 7th June, 1614. So called because it did not pass one single measure. (See Parliament.)

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