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Added 10 October 2026

coddle

/ˈkɒd.əl/ verb

verb Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about coddle at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

To treat gently or with great care.
To cook slowly in hot water that is below the boiling point.
a coddled egg
To exercise excessive or damaging authority in an attempt to protect. To overprotect.

noun

An Irish dish comprising layers of roughly sliced pork sausages and bacon rashers with sliced potatoes and onions.
An effeminate person.

Origin

Probably from caudle. Compare British dialect caddle (“to coax, spoil, fondle”) and cade.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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