Dăn'dle, v. t.
v. t. [imp. & p. p. DANDLED; p. pr. & vb. n. DANDLING.] [Ger. tändeln, to trifle, dandle, O. D. & Prov. Ger. danten, Prov. Ger. dantern, from Ger. tand, trifle, prattle; Scot. dandill, dander, to go about idly, to trifle.]
Sense 1. To move up and down in affectionate play, as an infant; to caress; to fondle.
Ye shall be . . . dandled on her knees. Is. lxvi. 12.
Kissed and dandled on thy father's knee. Donne.
Sense 2. To fondle, amuse, or treat, as a child; to toy with; to pet.
They have put me in a silk gown and a gaudy fool's cap; I am ashamed to be dandled thus. Addison.
The book, thus dandled into popularity by bishops and good ladies, contained many pieces of nursery eloquence. Jeffrey.
Sense 3. To put off or delay by trifles; to wheedle; to cajole. [Obs.]
King Henry's embassadors, having been dandled by the French during these delusive practices, returned without other fruit of their labors. Speed.