Dandle
Pronunciation
- UK IPA: ˈdændəl, ˈdændəɫ
Origin
Compare German dändeln ("to trifle, dandle"), Old Dutch and Provincial German danten, German Tand ("trifle, prattle"); Scots dandill ("dander, to go about idly, to trifle").
Full definition of dandle
Verb
- To move up and down on one’s knee or in one’s arms, in affectionate play, as an infant.
- "you will nurse and be carried on her arm and dandled on her knees." – Isaiah 66:12 (NIV)
- To treat with fondness, as if a child; to fondle; to toy with; to pet.
- They have put me in a silk night-gown and gaudy fool's cap, and make me now and then stand in the window with it. I am ashamed to be dandled thus, and cannot look in the glass without blushing to see myself turned into such a pretty little master. – Joseph Addison
- The book, thus dandled into popularity by bishops and good ladies, contained many pieces of nursery eloquence. – Francis Jeffrey, Lord Jeffrey
- (obsolete) To play with; to put off or delay by trifles; to wheedle.
- Captains do so dandle their doings, and dally in the service, as it they would not have the enemy subdued. – Edmund Spenser