Riddle

A riddle is a statement or question or phrase having a double or veiled meaning, put forth as a puzzle to be solved. Riddles are of two types: enigmas, which are problems generally expressed in metaphorical or allegorical language that require ingenuity and careful thinking for their solution, and conundra, which are questions relying for their effects on punning in either the question or the answer.

Archer Taylor says that "we can probably say that riddling is a universal art" and cites riddles from hundreds of different cultures including Finnish, Hungarian, American Indian, Chinese, Russian, Dutch and Filipino sources amongst many others. Hamnett analyzes African riddling from an anthropological viewpoint.

Definitions

Defining riddles precisely is hard and has attracted a fair amount of scholarly debate. One definition famous in Anglophone scholarship is that of Alan Dundes and Robert A. Georges: 'a riddle is a traditional verbal expression which contains one or more descriptive elements, a pair of which may be in opposition; the referent of the elements is to be guessed'. In some traditions and contexts, riddles may overlap with proverbs. Thus 'Nothing hurts it, but it groans all the time' can be deployed as a proverb (when its referent is a hypocrite) or as a riddle (when its referent is a pig).

Riddle (tool)

A riddle is a large sieve used to separate soil or compost particles, or for separating soil from vegetables.

Etymology

English "riddle" is from Middle English ridelle "coarse sieve," from late Old English hriddel "sieve," altered by dissimilation from Old English hridder "sieve"

Description

A riddle may be square, rectangular or circular in shape, with a rim made from wood, metal, plastic or beechwood, holding in place a steel wire mesh that may either be hand woven or machine made. A typical circular riddle is approximately 18" in diameter and the mesh may have a spacing of something like 1¹⁄₂", 1", 5/8 ", 1/2" or 3/8".

A riddle is typically used to improve soil quality by allowing the gardener to sieve through soil and remove stones, twigs, large lumps of clay etc. and hence provide a finer tilth. Smaller riddles can be used to separate soil very finely for seeds and early potting. Riddles may also be used to help remove soil from harvested vegetables.

See also

Riddle (song)

"Riddle" is a song by En Vogue. It was released as the lead single from the group's fourth studio album Masterpiece Theater. "Riddle" was the first and last single from the album. The song became a Top 40 hit in a few countries, it gained more success in Belgium where it became a Top 20 hit. The radio version of "Riddle" was remixed by Stargate; the remix sample one of their biggest hits My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It). The video received a lot of play, but the song didn't become a big hit. "Riddle" was the last single to feature Maxine Jones before she left to make more time for her family.

The band performed the single on The Rosie O'Donnell Show. The group also performed it for their 20th Anniversary, this time it featured all 4 original members rather than just Cindy, Terry & Maxine who did the original vocals.

CD Single/Promotional CD Tracks

"Riddle" German CD Single

"Riddle (The Remixes)" US Promo CD