Canoodle

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /kəˈnuːdl̩/

Definitions

1. To engage in lighthearted and affectionate physical closeness with someone
2. To cuddle or fondle someone in a playful or loving way
3. To show affection by embracing or caressing in a flirtatious manner

Etymology: The origin of "canoodle" is genuinely unsettled, and the candidates are more colourful than most. One proposal blends "caress" with "noodle," a slang verb meaning to fool around or waste time, which would make the word a mash-up of affection and idle play. A second, more often taken seriously, points to German "knuddeln," meaning to cuddle or, originally, to embrace tightly. That German verb is linked to Low German "knuddle," a little clump or knot, which ties the idea of affection to the image of things bunched together. The sense of intimacy it carries today is the core of the word: it describes a couple cuddling lovingly rather than any wider activity. Dictionaries record it as a verb, and its noun use is probably a later derivation from the verb. Beyond these possibilities, the trail goes cold, and no single origin has been established.

Synonyms: cuddle, snuggle, fondle, smooch, caress

Antonyms: push away, shun, reject, avoid, disregard