coddle — English Dictionary

Verb

1. To treat gently or with great care.

   Usage

   • Transitive

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   How many of our English princes have been coddled at home by their fond papas and mammas, walled up in inaccessible castles, with a tutor and a library, guarded by cordons of sentinels, sermoners, old aunts, old women from the world without, and have nevertheless escaped from all these guardians, and astonished the world by their extravagance and their frolics?

2. To cook slowly in hot water that is below the boiling point.

   Usage

   • Transitive

   Examples

   a coddled egg

   It [the guava fruit] bakes as well as a Pear, and it may be coddled, and it makes good Pies.

3. To exercise excessive or damaging authority in an attempt to protect. To overprotect.

   Usage

   • Transitive

Noun

1. An Irish dish comprising layers of roughly sliced pork sausages and bacon rashers with sliced potatoes and onions.

2. An effeminate person.

   Usage

   • Archaic

Verb

1. treat with excessive indulgence

   Synonyms

   pamperfeatherbedcossetcockerbabymollycoddlespoilindulge

   Broader terms

   treathandledo by

   Examples

   grandparents often pamper the children

   Let's not mollycoddle our students!

2. cook in nearly boiling water

   Broader terms

   cook

   Examples

   coddle eggs