▪ I. † ˈdandling, n. Obs. (or dial.)
[f. dandle v. + -ing.]
A dandled child; a fondling, a pet.
| 1611 Cotgr., Mignot, a wanton, feddle, fauorite; a dilling, dandling, darling. 1695 Kennett Par. Antiq. App. 695 Fortune..before made him her dandling. [1847–78 Halliwell, Dandling, a fondling child.] |
▪ II. dandling, vbl. n.
(ˈdændlɪŋ)
[-ing1.]
The action of the verb dandle, q.v.
| 1591 W. Webb Let. to R. Wilmott in Tancred & Gismund, Let it run abroade (as many parentes doe their children once past dandling). 1592 Shakes. Ven. & Ad. 562. 1602 Marston Ant. & Mel. iii. Wks. 1856 I. 39 That wanton dandling of your fan. 1836 Sir W. Hamilton Discuss. (1852) 260 [He] has long out-grown the need of any critical dandling. |
▪ III. ˈdandling, ppl. a.
[-ing2.]
That dandles: see the verb. Hence ˈdandlingly adv.
| 1598 Florio, Vezzosaménte, wantonly, dandlinglie. |