Rid″dle, n. [For riddels, s being misunderstood as the plural ending; OE. ridels, redels. AS. rǣdels; akin to D. raadsel, G. räthsel; fr. AS. rǣdan to counsel or advise, also, to guess. √116. Cf. Read.] Something proposed to be solved by guessing or conjecture; a puzzling question; an ambiguous proposition; an enigma; hence, anything ambiguous or puzzling.
To wring from me, and tell to them, my secret,
That solved the riddle which I had proposed. Milton.
'T was a strange riddle of a lady. Hudibras.