dandle

[ dan-dl ]
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verb (used with object),dan·dled, dan·dling.
  1. to move (a baby, child, etc.) lightly up and down, as on one's knee or in one's arms.

  2. to pet; pamper.

Origin of dandle

1
First recorded in 1520–30; origin uncertain; perhaps akin to Italian dandola, dondola “a child's doll” and its derivative verb dandolare, dondolare “to rock, swing, dangle,” and akin to French dandiner “to swing back and forth, dandle” and se dandiner “to make a hip movement, sway the hips, gyrate, waddle”

Other words from dandle

  • dandler, noun
  • un·dan·dled, adjective

Words Nearby dandle

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How to use dandle in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for dandle

dandle

/ (ˈdændəl) /


verb(tr)
  1. to move (a young child, etc) up and down (on the knee or in the arms)

  2. to pet; fondle

Origin of dandle

1
C16: of uncertain origin

Derived forms of dandle

  • dandler, noun

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