whittling

To cut or shape wood with a knife.

To reduce or gradually eliminate something (such as a debt).

To make eager or excited; to excite with liquor; to inebriate.

(usually in the plural) A chip or shaving whittled from some larger substance.

The art of carving shapes out of raw wood using a knife

A process of repeatedly shaving slivers from a piece of wood (non-artistic)