Real Dictionary

whittle
verb: If you whittle something from a piece of wood, you carve it by cutting pieces off the wood with a knife.

Whittle in American English
Sir Frank1907-96; Eng. engineer & pioneer developer of jet propulsion engines
to cut or pare thin shavings from (wood) with a knife
intransitive verb: to whittle wood or the like with a knife, as in shaping something or as a mere aimless diversion
noun: a knife, esp. a large one, as a carving knife or a butcher knife
transitive verb: to cut, trim, or shape (a stick, piece of wood, etc.) by carving off bits with a knife

whittle in British English
noun: a knife, esp a large one
noun: Sir Frank. 1907–96, English engineer, who invented the jet engine for aircraft; flew first British jet aircraft (1941)
verb: to cut or shave strips or pieces from (wood, a stick, etc), esp with a knife