# dally

> English word · Verb · IPA /ˈdæli/ · frequency rank #37,876

## Definitions
1. To waste time in trivial activities, or in idleness; to trifle.
2. To caress, especially of a sexual nature; to fondle or pet
3. To delay unnecessarily; to while away.

## Etymology
From Middle English dalien, from Anglo-Norman delaier. Doublet of delay.

## Easily confused with
- **day** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dally-vs-day)
- **doll** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dally-vs-doll)
- **dull** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dally-vs-dull)
- **dell** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dally-vs-dell)
- **Daly** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dally-vs-daly)
- **duly** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dally-vs-duly)
- **Davy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dally-vs-davy)
- **dill** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dally-vs-dill)
- **delay** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dally-vs-delay)
- **Danny** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dally-vs-danny)
- **dolly** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dally-vs-dolly)
- **Della** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dally-vs-della)
- **Davey** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dally-vs-davey)
- **Darcy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dally-vs-darcy)
- **dandy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dally-vs-dandy)
- **darby** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dally-vs-darby)
- **Dolby** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dally-vs-dolby)
- **dimly** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dally-vs-dimly)
- **Delle** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dally-vs-delle)
- **dilly** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dally-vs-dilly)

## Common misspellings (5)
`adlly`, `dallyy`, `dalyl`, `ddally`, `dlaly`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/dally