danglen.
Act or manner of dangling (rare); something that dangles.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > support > hanging or suspension > [noun] > hanging down > dangling
dangling1611
dingle-dangle1702
dangle1756
danglement1834
the world > space > relative position > support > hanging or suspension > [noun] > that which hangs or is suspended > danglingly
dangling1611
dingle-dangle1622
dangler1731
dangle1888
1756 Connoisseur No. 122 Seeming ravished with the genteel dangle of his sword-knot.
1888 O. Crawfurd Sylvia Arden ii. 21 He lay there in a swound till they got him up the ladder, with just a dangle of life in him.
1903 Westm. Gaz. 26 Mar. 8/2 We get dangles in the shops made and ready for our use, fashioned of silk cords and tassels.
1909 Cent. Dict. Suppl. Dangle-money, an early Chinese bronze coinage, so called from its resemblance to and former use as dangles of a musical instrument.
1909 M. B. Saunders Litany Lane i. ix A pair of long jet earrings representing funeral urns with cloths over them had replaced the usual golden dangles.
1909 Webster's New Internat. Dict. Eng. Lang. (at cited word) A dangle of curls.
1937 E. Partridge Dict. Slang 207/2 Dangle-parade, a ‘short-arm’ inspection: New Zealand soldiers’.
1957 J. Kerouac On the Road i. vii. 44 On the wall was a nude drawing of Dean, enormous dangle and all.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1894; most recently modified version published online June 2019).
dangleadj.
rare.
Dangling.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > support > hanging or suspension > [adjective] > hanging down > dangling
dangled1593
dangling1597
dingle-dangle1598
loose-hanging1598
dangle1600
loose-hung1625
adangle1855
dangly1903
1600 J. Pory tr. J. Leo Africanus Geogr. Hist. Afr. ii. 341 A tame beast..having long and dangle eares.
1889 Braithwaite Retrospect Med. C. 241 In many cases the leg is a mere ‘dangle limb’ of no service whatever.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1894; most recently modified version published online June 2019).
danglev.
/ˈdaŋɡ(ə)l/ 1.
a. intransitive. To hang loosely swaying to and fro.
ΘΠ
the world > space > relative position > support > hanging or suspension > hang or be suspended [verb (intransitive)] > hang down > dangle
danglec1590
dandle1614
bangle1622
dingle-dangle1632
c1590 Sir Thomas More (1844) 46 How long Hath this shagg fleece hung dangling on thy head?
1598 B. Yong tr. A. Pérez 2nd Pt. Diana in tr. J. de Montemayor Diana 228 Her disshiueled hair..in curled lockes hung dangling about her snow-white forehead.
1633 P. Fletcher Piscatorie Eclogs i. vi. 2 in Purple Island Our thinne nets dangling in the winde.
1678 J. Norris Coll. Misc. (1699) 37 Ripe Apples now hang dangling on the Tree.
1782 W. Cowper John Gilpin 132 For all might see the bottle-necks Still dangling at his waist.
1877 W. Black Green Pastures xxxvi Mr. Bolitho was seated on a table, his legs dangling in the air.
b. To hang from the gallows; to be hanged.
ΘΠ
society > authority > punishment > capital punishment > hanging > be hanged [verb (intransitive)]
rideeOE
hangc1000
anhangc1300
wagc1430
totter?1515
to wave in the windc1515
swing1542
trine1567
to look through ——?1570
to preach at Tyburn cross1576
stretch?1576
to stretch a rope1592
truss1592
to look through a hempen window?a1600
gibbet1600
to have the lift1604
to salute Tyburn1640
to dance the Tyburn jig1664
dangle1678
to cut a caper on nothing1708
string1714
twist1725
to wallop in a tow (also tether)1786
to streek in a halter1796
to straight a ropea1800
strap1815
to dance upon nothing1837
to streek a tow1895
1678 S. Butler Hudibras: Third Pt. iii. i. 38 And Men [have] as often dangled for't, And yet will never leave the Sport.
1748 T. Smollett Roderick Random I. xxx. 276 Let the rascal be carried back to his confinement.—I find he must dangle.
1841 G. P. R. James Brigand xxxviii Set him dangling from the battlements.
2.
a. transitive. To make (a thing) hang and sway to and fro; to hold or carry (it) suspended loosely.
ΘΠ
the world > space > relative position > support > hanging or suspension > hang or suspend [verb (transitive)] > allow or cause to hang down > dangle
danglea1625
slenker1658
a1625 W. Shakespeare & J. Fletcher Two Noble Kinsmen (1634) i. ii. 57 What cannon is there That does command my Rapier from my hip, To dangle 't in my hand.
1748 T. Smollett Roderick Random II. xlv. 81 I..dangled my cane, and adjusted my swordknot.
1808 W. Scott Marmion v. xii. 260 The bridegroom stood dangling his bonnet and plume.
1873 J. A. Symonds Stud. Greek Poets x. 314 Lazy fishermen..dangling their rods like figures in Pompeian frescoes.
b. figurative. To keep (hopes, anticipations, etc.) hanging uncertainly before any one.
ΘΠ
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > hope > promise, ground of hope > foster hopes [verb (transitive)] > false or uncertain
flatter1377
feed1530
dangle1871
cosy1960
the mind > will > wish or inclination > desire > longing or yearning > long or yearn for [verb (transitive)] > inspire with longing > show as encouragement or enticement
dangle1871
1871 E. A. Freeman Hist. Norman Conquest (1876) IV. xviii. 193 The hopes of a royal marriage were again dangled before the eyes of Eadwine.
1877 A. W. Kinglake Invasion of Crimea (ed. 6) II. ii. 31 The mighty temptation which seemed to be dangled before him.
c. To hang (any one) on a gallows.
ΘΠ
society > authority > punishment > capital punishment > hanging > hang [verb (transitive)]
hangc1000
anhangOE
forhangc1300
to loll up1377
gallowa1400
twitchc1450
titc1480
truss1536
beswinga1566
trine1567
to turn over1570
to turn off1581
to turn (a person) on the toe1594
to stretch1595
derrick1600
underhang1603
halter1616
staba1661
noose1664
alexander1666
nub1673
ketch1681
tuck1699
gibbet1726
string1728
scrag1756
to hang up1771
crap1773
patibulate1811
strap1815
swing1816
croak1823
yardarm1829
to work off1841
suspercollatea1863
dangle1887
1887 W. C. Russell Frozen Pirate II. iv. 92 This is evidence to dangle even an honester man than you.
3. † b. To stroll idly, or with lounging steps: cf. 1607, 1760 at sense 3a. Obsolete.
a. figurative (intransitive) To hang after or about any one, especially as a loosely attached follower; to follow in a dallying way, without being a formally recognized attendant.
ΘΠ
the world > movement > progressive motion > order of movement > following behind > follow behind [verb (intransitive)] > follow in dallying way
dangle1607
1607 T. Dekker & J. Webster Famous Hist. Thomas Wyat sig. E2 Wyat..rising thus, In armes with the Kentishmen dangling thus at his taile.
1735 J. Swift Richmond Lodge & Marble Hill in Wks. II. 375 Plump Johnny Gay will now elope; And here no more will dangle Pope.
1735 H. Fielding Universal Gallant i. 9 Pray take her, I dangled after her long enough too.
1760 S. Foote Minor i. 13 The sleek..'prentice us'd to dangle after his mistress, with the great..Bible under his arm.
1856 C. Merivale Hist. Romans under Empire IV. xxxvii. 262 The exquisites of the day were men who dangled in the train of ladies.
a1859 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. (1861) V. 5 Heirs of noble houses..dangling after actresses.
ΘΠ
society > travel > aspects of travel > going on foot > go on foot [verb (intransitive)] > leisurely or idly
raik?c1350
troll1377
spacea1425
jet1530
spacierc1550
snaffle1611
spatiate1626
saunter1671
stroll1680
trollopa1745
dangle1778
doiter1793
stroam1796
browse1803
soodle1821
potter1824
streek1827
streel1839
pasear1840
toddle1848
bummel1900
1778 G. L. Way Learning at Loss II. 76 They quitted, or, to use their own expression, dangled out of the Room.
4. transitive. To lead about in one's train, or as an appendage.
ΘΠ
society > travel > aspects of travel > guidance in travel > show (the way) [verb (transitive)] > lead about > in specific manner
danglea1732
nose1885
a1732 J. Gay Distress'd Wife (1743) ii.i. 25 I am not to be dangled about whenever and wherever his odious Business calls him.
5. To while away or cause to pass in dangling.
ΘΠ
the world > time > spending time > spend time or allow time to pass [verb (transitive)] > pleasantly
short1449
shorten1579
deceive1591
sport1593
delude1615
entreata1616
while1635
elude1660
divert1707
dangle1727
wile1796
smile1803
to round off1824
the world > time > spending time > spend time or allow time to pass [verb (transitive)] > waste time
leese?c1225
losea1340
defer1382
wastea1400
slip1435
consumea1500
superexpend1513
slow?1522
sloth1523
to fode forth1525
slack1548
dree1584
sleuth1584
confound1598
spenda1604
to fret out1608
to spin out1608
misplace1609
spend1614
tavern1628
devast1632
to drill away, on, outa1656
dulla1682
to dally away1685
squander1693
to linger awaya1704
dangle1727
dawdle1768
slim1812
diddle1826
to run out the clock1957
the world > action or operation > inaction > idleness, lack of occupation or activity > cause to be idle or inactive [verb (transitive)] > occupy oneself triflingly with > waste (time) in trifling activity
trifle outa1450
trifle1532
loiter1549
picklea1568
toy1575
trifle1587
rust1604
to idle (time) away1652
fool1657
to dally away1685
dangle1727
to piddle away1743
peddle1866
potter1883
putter1911
gold-brick1918
1727 Visct. Bolingbroke Let. in J. Swift Lett. (1766) II. 343 The noble pretension of dangling away life in an ante-chamber.
Compounds
dangle-berry n. Blue Tangle, Gaylussacia frondosa, an American shrub, family Vacciniaceæ.
dangle-jack n. (see quot. 1881).
Π
1881 S. Evans Evans's Leicestershire Words (new ed.) Dangle-jack, the primitive roasting-jack, generally a stout bit of worsted with a hook at the end, turned by giving it a twist from time to time with the fingers.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1894; most recently modified version published online June 2020).
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n.1756
adj.1600
v.c1590