The term 'WHITTLES' refers to the process of cutting or carving something, usually wood, into a desired shape. The crossword solutions for this term are PARES (5 letters), THINS (5 letters), and ERODES (6 letters). PARES means to reduce in size or amount, thins means to make something thinner, and ERODES means to wear away gradually. All three words are related to the term WHITTLES, as they all involve reducing or wearing away something.