† nauntlev.
English regional. Obsolete.
1. transitive. To lift, rear up.
ΚΠ
1820 J. Clare Poems Rural Life (ed. 3) 189 The daisy nauntles up its head.
2. intransitive. To rise up; to hold oneself or itself erect. Also: to strut, mince.
ΚΠ
1821 J. Clare Village Minstrel I. 210 The steeple's taper stretch.., nauntling high and proud.
1841 R. W. Hamilton Nugæ Lit. 356 He who nantles, acts in an effeminate manner.
1883 T. Lees Easther's Gloss. Dial. Almondbury & Huddersfield Nantle, to move about with a mincing step.
3. intransitive. To caress, fondle; to toy with something.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > love > action of caressing > caress [verb (transitive)]
freeOE
coy1340
daunsel1362
to fawn on, upon1477
daut?a1513
cherish1568
fona1586
minion1598
flatter1599
ingle1599
biscot1653
ningle1659
fond1676
smuggle1679
fondle1686
caress1697
nauntle1828
smudge1844
1828 W. Carr Dial. Craven (ed. 2) Nantle.
1874 ‘T. Treddlehoyle’ Bairnsla Foaks' Ann. 23 Stuck befor t'sceenin [seeming] glass, twistin and nantlin wi ther curls.
4. intransitive. To move slowly, to wander about; to work slowly or imperfectly.
ΚΠ
1849 F. T. Dinsdale Gloss. Provinc. Words Teesdale Nantle, to be employed in an easy and careless manner.
1888 S. O. Addy Gloss. Words Sheffield 155 I can nantle about a bit still.
1898 B. Kirkby Lakeland Words 105 Nantle aboot t'garden fer days.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2003; most recently modified version published online September 2021).
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