dandle
/ˈdændəl/
"dandle" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“dandle” is uncommon English (outside the top frequency list), classed as a verb. The kind of spelling people second-guess.
- Unranked
- below top-frequency English
- 6
- letters
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - To move up and down on one's knee or in one's arms, in affectionate play, usually said of a child.
Corpus desk
Index EN-dandle · dandle · English
dandle · unranked · 0 variants · 0 confusables
- FREQ-UNRANKED Unranked
- LEN-LONG 6 letters
- VOW-2 2 vowels
- CONFUS-0 No pairs
- VAR-0 0 variants
- BOOK-THIN "D" thin
- PHOTO-UNK Peer pending
Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern
Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | dandle |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Verb |
| IPA | /ˈdændəl/ |
| Letters | 6 |
| Misspellings tracked | 0 |
| Confusable pairs | 0 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Long-tail rank of “dandle” in English
Rare enough to double-check
dandle is uncommon English outside the top frequency list, classed as averb, transcribed /ˈdændəl/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 3 senses are on record.
Zero misspellings are on record for dandle in our index, a sign its spelling follows regular English conventions. Our dataset records no confusable match here, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.
Etymologically, the entry records: 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 (“… The correct English form is dandle, spelled D-A-N-D-L-E.
Definition
- 1To move up and down on one's knee or in one's arms, in affectionate play, usually said of a child.
- 2To treat with fondness or affection, as if a child; to pet.
- 3To play with; to wheedle.
Recorded use
Wiktionary examplesThese source excerpts show how dandle appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.
the young mother sat [the infant] upright in her lap, and[…]dandled it with a gloomy indifference.
You will nurse and be carried on her arm and dandled on her knees.
Etymology
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”).
This word in other languages
Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.