▪ I. caudle, n.
(ˈkɔːd(ə)l)
Forms: 3–6 caudel, 4–7 cawdel(l, 5 cawdelle, cawdille, 5–6 caudelle, 5–7 caudell, (6 cadle, cawdale), 7–8 cawdle, (8 Sc. caddel), 6– caudle.
[a. ONF. caudel (= central OF. chaudel, mod.F. chaudeau):—med.L. caldellum, dim. of caldum, calidum (neut. of caldus, calidus warm) ‘a hot drink’.]
1. A warm drink consisting of thin gruel, mixed with wine or ale, sweetened and spiced, given chiefly to sick people, esp. women in childbed; also to their visitors.
| 1297 R. Glouc. (1824) 561 As me seiþ, wan ich am ded, make me a caudel. 1362 Langl. P. Pl. A. v. 205 Glotoun was a gret cherl..and cowhede vp a cawdel in clementes lappe. c 1400 Beryn 431 Sit and ete þe cawdell..þat was made With sugir and with swete wyne. ? 1483 Caxton Bk. for Trav., Potages, caudell for the seke, chaudel. 1540 T. Raynalde Byrth Man ii. x. (1634) 152 It is a common vsage to give often to women in theyr childbed, caudels of Ote⁓meale. 1570 Levins Manip. 9 A cadle, potiuncula ouacea. 1612 Woodall Surg. Mate Wks. (1653) 164 A comfortable Caudle made with some Wine, Spices, Sugar, and the yolk of an egge. 1642 Fuller Holy & Prof. St. ii. xxi. 137 They cast out of their ship..much suger, and packs of spices, making a caudle of the sea round about. 1659–60 Pepys Diary (1879) I. 85 Went to bed and got a caudle made me, and sleep upon it very well. 1765 London Chron. 29 Aug. 202 The resort of different ranks of people at St. James's to receive the Queen's Caudle is now very great. 1855 Thackeray Newcomes I. 90 She went to see the grocer's wife on an interesting occasion, and won the heart of the family by tasting their caudle. |
† b. caudle of hemp-seed, hempen caudle (ironically): = hanging. Obs.
| 1588 Marprel. Epist. (1845) 22 He hath prooued you to haue deserued a cawdell of Hempseed, and a playster of neckweed. 1593 Shakes. 2 Hen. VI, iv. vii. 95 Ye shall haue a hempen Caudle then, and the help of hatchet. |
2. Comb. caudle-cup.
| 1657 in Picton L'pool Munic. Rec. (1883) I. 153 One Cawdell Cupp with a top. 1672 Davenant News fr. Plymouth (1673) 14. 1743 Fielding Jon. Wild iii. vii, A pint silver caudle-cup, the gift of her grandmother. 1820 D. Turner Tour Normandy II. 150 The odd mixture of caudle-cup, compliment and courtly flattery. |
▪ II. caudle, v.
(ˈkɔːd(ə)l)
[f. prec. n.]
1. trans. To administer a caudle to.
| 1607 Shakes. Timon iv. iii. 226 Will the cold brooke Candied with Ice, cawdle thy Morning taste. 1672 Davenant Love & Hon. (1673) 256 Cawdled like a Haberdashers Wife That lies in of her first Child. 1832 Blackw. Mag. XXXII. 458 [They] have caudled and beflannelled themselves. |
2. To mix, as in a caudle.
| 1790 H. Boyd in Poet. Register (1808) 133 Blessings unsophisticate and pure; Not caudled for our taste with dregs terrene. 1845 Carlyle Cromwell (1871) V. 44 His Highness has inextricably caudled the two together. |
3. To talk over, lecture (a husband). [A nonce-use from ‘Mrs. Caudle's Curtain Lectures’.]
| 1845 Tait's Mag. XII. 482 The mother is easily convinced..she must Caudle her husband into the same conviction. |