dandle Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb move (a baby) up and down in one's arms or on one's knees
  2. verb pet
    • the grandfather dandled the small child

WordNet

Dan"dle transitive verb
Etymology
Cf. G. dändeln to trifly, dandle, OD. & Prov. G. danten, G. tand trifly, prattle; Scot. dandill, dander, to go about idly, to trifly.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Dandled ; present participle & verbal noun Dandling
Definitions
  1. To move up and down on one's knee or in one's arms, in affectionate play, as an infant.
    Ye shall be dandled . . . upon her knees. Is.
  2. To treat with fondness, as if a child; to fondle; to toy with; to pet.
    They have put me in a silk gown and gaudy fool's cap; I as ashamed to be dandled thus. Addison.
    The book, thus dandled into popularity by bishops and good ladies, contained many pieces of nursery eloquence. Jeffrey.
  3. To play with; to put off or delay by trifles; to wheedle. Obs.
    Captains do so dandle their doings, and dally in the service, as it they would not have the enemy subdued. Spenser.

Webster 1913