NYT Dictionary

DANDLE

/ˈdændəl/
VerbNounDAN-dledan-dle · 2 syllablesAdvanced/Professional

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2021, 2023, 2025, 2026

Meaning

To move up and down on one's knee or in one's arms, in affectionate play, usually said of a child.

Etymology

Origin: French

Compare Scots dandill (“to dander; go about idly; move uncertainly; trifle”), English dialectal dander (“to wander about; talk incoherently; rave”), Middle Dutch dantinnen (“to trifle”) (from French dandiner (“to swing; waddle”)), German dändeln, tändeln (“to trifle, dandle”), Middle Dutch and Provincial German danten (“to do foolish things; trifle”), German Tand (“trifle, prattle”).

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

fondlecaresscoddlecossetcuddledallylovepamperpatpet

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 5 recorded puzzles:

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