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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Dandle \Dan"dle\, verb (used with an object) [imp. & p. p. {Dandled}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Dandling}.] [Cf. G. d[aum]ndeln to trifly, dandle, OD. & Prov. G. danten, G. tand trifly, prattle; Scot. dandill, dander, to go about idly, to trifly.]
1. To move up and down on one's knee or in one's arms, in affectionate play, as an infant.
Ye shall be dandled . . . upon her knees. --Is.?
2. To treat with fondness, as if a child; to fondle; to toy with; to pet.
They have put me in a silk gown and gaudy fool's cap; I as ashamed to be dandled thus. --Addison.
The book, thus dandled into popularity by bishops and good ladies, contained many pieces of nursery eloquence. --Jeffrey.
3. To play with; to put off or delay by trifles; to wheedle. [Obs.]
Captains do so dandle their doings, and dally in the service, as it they would not have the enemy subdued. --Spenser.
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
verb
1: move (a baby) up and down in one's arms or on one's knees
2: pet; "the grandfather dandled the small child"
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Definitions retrieved from the Open Source DICT English and WordNet 3.0 dictionaries. Click here for database copyright information.
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