1. trans. To make much of (a child), pet, caress.
1688. Miege, Fr. Dict., 11. To faddle a Child, caresser un Enfant.
1721–1800. in Bailey.
1881. Evans, Leicestersh. Words, 145. ‘His mother had use to faddle him a deal.’
2. intr. ‘To trifle; to toy; to play’ (J.).
1755. in Johnson.
1761. Mrs. F. Sheridan, Sidney Bidulph, I. 204. I thought … to have faddled away a good while longer.
1879. Miss Jackson, Shropsh. Word-bk., Faddle-after, to pay minute attention to a person; to be solicitous about—and complying with—fads. ‘Bessy’s a rar’ place up at the owd ’all; nuthin ’ardly to do but faddle-after the Missis, draw the drink, an’ sich like.’
Hence Faddler, one who faddles; Faddling ppl. a., trifling, pettifogging.
1883. J. W. Sherer, At Home and in India, 8. It [the garden] was divided into faddling beds.
1884. Pall Mall G., 30 Oct., 5/1. The critic who gratified Mr. Stevenson by calling him a ‘faddling hedonist.’
1888. The Saturday Review, LXV. 7 Jan., 19/2. For the credit of humanity it is to be hoped that it contains a much smaller percentage of faddlers and meddlers.
