'To play second fiddle' definitions:

Definition of 'To play second fiddle'

From: GCIDE
  • 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 (Zool.), 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 (Zool.), 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]