to dandle
1
9.6
- verb
- /ˈdændəl/
:
mecer
- At the family gathering, she enjoyed dandling her little niece while sharing stories.
- dandled on my knee
Examples
-
Admiral, will you ever forget how you used to dandle me on your knee?
-
Jacob, at the breakfast table in the kitchen, dandles Michael on his knee and scowls.
Fiction book (1994) -
Why, I used to dandle you on my knee.
-
The judge has been dandling the little Indian boy on his knee.
-
A photograph of her shows an aged lady dandling a child on her knee, surrounded by kids in party hats.
Academic text (1993) -
In the evening, when the husband came home from work, they had a cocktail together in the den, and the baby was again brought to her for them both to cuddle and dandle on their knees; this was a fine family time.
Fiction book (2001) -
" Across the way, a young man is dandling a baby on his knee, rubbing its back and sniffing at its neck.
Fiction book (1992) -
His dog's great size garnered a good share of cautious interest, and Jonathan, dressed in a new sailor suit, was busy eluding all prospects of being dandled on knees or pressed to bosoms.
Fiction book (1999) -
Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream: then shall ye suck, ye shall be borne upon her sides, and be dandled upon her knees.
Blog text (21) -
The father gently dandled his baby on his knee, making her giggle with delight.
Antonyms
Compounds
How Vigorous
Surface Forms
Etymology
Dandle probably comes from old baby talk that copies the soft sound or gentle motion of rocking a child, like a little repeating noise for up-and-down movement. A helpful way to remember dandle is to think of it as gently 'rocking' or 'bouncing' a baby on your knee, which is exactly what the word means.