▪ I. molly-coddle, n.
(ˈmɒlɪkɒd(ə)l)
Also 9 moll caudle, -coddle.
[f. molly n.1 + coddle v.2]
a. One who coddles himself or is coddled; one who takes excessive care of his health; an effeminate man. Also attrib. b. dial. = mollycot.
| 1833 Sir C. Napier Colonies 209 A ‘moll caudle’ spirit that reigned supreme through all the acts of this government. 1849 Thackeray Pendennis I. xxxii. 310 You have been bred up as a molly-coddle, Pen, and spoilt by the women. 1851 ― Eng. Hum. v. (1853) 257 He couldn't do otherwise than..hold him up to scorn as a moll-coddle and a milksop. 1894 Wilkins & Vivian Green Bay Tree I. 24 This desperately molly-coddle age. 1895 Times 12 Nov. 14/2 They..come..from well-meaning but molly-coddle friends. 1903 Eng. Dial. Dict., Mollycoddle,..2. A man who does household work; one who interferes with women's business. |
▪ II. molly-coddle, v.
(ˈmɒlɪkɒd(ə)l)
Also 9 moddle-coddle, moddley-coddley.
[f. prec.]
trans. To coddle or cocker up.
| 1870 Dickens E. Drood ii, Don't moddley-coddley, there's a good fellow. I like anything better than being moddley-coddleyed. 1880 Mrs. Forrester Roy & V. I. 264, I am not going to have the child molly-coddled in that way. 1883 M. E. Braddon Gold. Calf III. vii. 227 Look here, mother dear: I'm as well as ever I was, and I'm not going to be mollicoddled any more. 1898 Cath. News 21 May 8/3 This is very much like appealing to a householder to molly coddle a burglar who had invaded his premises rather than bring in the police. |
Hence ˈmolly-coddling vbl. n. and ppl. a.
| 1881 ‘Rita’ My Lady Coquette xv, Fresh air is a thousand times better for her than molly-coddling and medicines. 1885 Times 2 Jan. 10 A hypersensitive and mollycoddling regard for our finer feelings. 1893 Westm. Gaz. 6 Feb. 10/2 Moddle-coddling is the curse of missions. |