Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary · 1913

Wriggle

Wriggle , intransitive verb

[Freq. of wrig, probably from Old English wrikken to move to and fro; compare LG. wriggeln, Dutch wrikken, Swedish vricka, Danish vrikke.]

To move the body to and fro with short, writhing motions, like a worm; to squirm; to twist uneasily or quickly about.
Both he and successors would often wriggle in their seats, as long as the cushion lasted. — Swift

Wriggle , transitive verb

To move with short, quick contortions; to move by twisting and squirming; like a worm.
Covetousness will wriggle itself out at a small hole. — Fuller
Wriggling his body to recover His seat, and cast his right leg over. — Hudibras

Wriggle , adjective

Wriggling; frisky; pliant; flexible. [Obsolete]
Their wriggle tails. — Spenser

Wriggle , noun

Act of wriggling; a short or quick writhing motion or contortion.