An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics
English-French-Persian

Small-scale variations in the position of the Earth's geographical poles within an irregular circle of 3 to 15 metres in diameter. It seems to result from two nearly circular components, a seasonal variation in the mass distribution on the Earth (ice, snow, atmosphere) and movements of matter within the Earth.

Named after Seth Carlo Chandler (1846-1913), the American astronomer who discovered the phenomenon; → wobble.

1a) To incline to one side and to the other alternately, as a wheel, top, or other rotating body when not properly balanced.
1b) To move unsteadily from side to side; vacillate; waver.
2) A wobbling movement (Dictionary.com).

Probably from Low Ger. wabbeln "to wobble;" cognate with O.N. vafla "hover about, totter," related to vafra "move unsteadily."

Palâpel "wobbling, unsteady motion" in štiyâni dialect, variant in colloquial Persian pilipili, pelpel (pilipili raftan, pilipili xordan).