ped·dle / ˈpedl/ • v. [tr.] try to sell (something, esp. small goods) by going from house to house or place to place: he peddled art and printing materials around the country. ∎  sell (an illegal drug or stolen item): [as n.] (peddling) certain youths who were involved in theft and drug peddling. ∎ derog. promote (an idea or view) persistently or widely: he criticized his fellow candidate for peddling risky ideas.

ped·dler / ˈpedlər; ˈpedl-ər/ (also ped·lar) • n. a person who goes from place to place selling small goods. ∎  a person who sells illegal drugs or stolen goods: a drug peddler. ∎  a person who promotes an idea or view persistently or widely: peddlers of dangerous Utopianism.

peddle
A. follow the occupation of a pedlar XVI;

B. busy oneself with trifles XVI. First recorded in peddling; in A back-formation from peddler, PEDLAR; in B prob. var. of PIDDLE by assoc. in form and sense with A.