Chuzzling

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. Cuddling or fondling someone in an affectionate, playful way, a usage found mainly in Scottish and northern English dialect
2. Showing affection by stroking, hugging or cosseting another person, as a dialect verb used in parts of Scotland
3. Petting or nestling close to someone fondly, an older regional term recorded in some dialect dictionaries

Etymology: "Chuzzling" is the "-ing" form of the verb "chuzzle," meaning to fondle or cuddle someone affectionately. The base verb is a rare, mainly dialect-style word, and its origin is not well documented. The sound may offer a clue. English has a family of affectionate words built around "chuck," as in a tap under the chin, so "chuzzle" may belong to that group, though this link is a guess rather than a documented fact.

Synonyms: fondling, cuddling