[f. FONDLE v. + -ING1.] The action of the vb. FONDLE; an affectionate handling; a fond gesture.

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1714.  Mandeville, Fab. Bees (1729), II. 211. The Women have no Leisure to indulge themselves in the various Expressions of their Fondness for their Infants, which fondling of them ever encreases, they are often very remiss in tending and playing with them.

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1781.  Mickle, Siege of Marseilles, II. iv.

                    But Cyrus made no revel,
No midnight mask, no flatt’ring amorous fondling
To fan her pride, or melt her guardless heart.

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1886.  Hall Caine, Son of Hagar, I. i. The wrestlers were calm to all outward appearance, and embraced each other with the quiet fondling of lambs and the sinuous power of less affectionate creatures.

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