cuddle
Meanings
noun
- An intimate physical embrace, typically while lying (or sitting): a snuggle, an instance of lying together snugly, as one might with a partner (more intimate than a hug, and typically of longer duration).
- An affectionate embrace, a hug, such as is given to family members and close friends (less intimate than a snuggle, and typically of shorter duration).
verb
- To lie together snugly (with someone), in an intimate physical embrace; to snuggle.
- To embrace (someone) affectionately; to hug (someone) closely.
- To cradle (e.g. a baby) in one's arms so as to give comfort, warmth.
- To lie close or snug; to crouch; to nestle.
Pronunciation
Word forms
Etymology
Origin uncertain, but probably from a frequentative form of Middle English *cudden, cuththen, keththen (“to embrace”), a variant of cuthen, kuthen, kithen (“to be familiar with, make known”), from Middle English cuth, couth (“known, familiar”), equivalent to couth + -le. Cognate with Middle Dutch kudden (“to come together, flock together”). More at couth.
Derived words
Translations
This entry uses open data from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA/GFDL). Word forms are used for search and are not indexed as separate pages.