To play first fiddle

Fiddle Fid"dle (f[i^]d"d'l), n. [OE. fidele, fithele, AS. fi[eth]ele; akin to D. vedel, OHG. fidula, G. fiedel, Icel. fi[eth]la, and perh. to E. viol. Cf. {Viol}.] 1. (Mus.) A stringed instrument of music played with a bow; a violin; a kit. [1913 Webster]

2. (Bot.) A kind of dock ({Rumex pulcher}) with fiddle-shaped leaves; -- called also {fiddle dock}. [1913 Webster]

3. (Naut.) A rack or frame of bars connected by strings, to keep table furniture in place on the cabin table in bad weather. --Ham. Nav. Encyc. [1913 Webster]

{Fiddle beetle} (Zo["o]l.), a Japanese carabid beetle ({Damaster blaptoides}); -- so called from the form of the body.

{Fiddle block} (Naut.), a long tackle block having two sheaves of different diameters in the same plane, instead of side by side as in a common double block. --Knight.

{Fiddle bow}, fiddlestick.

{Fiddle fish} (Zo["o]l.), the angel fish.

{Fiddle head}, See {fiddle head} in the vocabulary.

{Fiddle pattern}, a form of the handles of spoons, forks, etc., somewhat like a violin.

{Scotch fiddle}, the itch. (Low)

{To play first fiddle}, or {To play second fiddle}, to take a leading or a subordinate part. [Colloq.] [1913 Webster]