DANDLE

dandle. Dandle, v.t. to fondle, shake gently, dance, delay

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Dan″dle (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dandled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Dandling (?).] [[Cf. G. dändeln to trifly, dandle, OD. & Prov. G. danten, G. tand trifly, prattle; Scot. dandill, dander, to go about idly, to trifly.]] 1. 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. 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. 3. 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. Spenser.