canoodle

verb

ca·​noo·​dle kə-ˈnü-dᵊl 

canoodled; canoodling kə-ˈnü-dliŋ  -ˈnü-dᵊl-iŋ  ; canoodles

intransitive verb

informal

: to engage in amorous embracing, caressing, and kissing : pet, fondle

lovers canoodling in the park

… used to sit in the sun porch in the evening, among the geraniums and the begonias, whispering, holding hands, canoodling.

—Edna O'Brien

… widows in their sixties canoodle and exchange sweet nothings with boys a third of their age.

—Matthew Gwyther

Did you know?

The Foolish History of Canoodle

The origins of canoodle are obscure. Our best guess is that it may come from an English dialect noun of the same spelling meaning "donkey," "fool," or "foolish lover," which itself may be an alteration of the word noodle, meaning "a foolish person." That noodle, in turn, may come from noddle, a word for the head. The guess seems reasonable given that, since its appearance in the language around the mid-19th century, canoodle has been most often used jocularly for playful public displays of affection by couples who are head over heels in love.

Examples of canoodle in a Sentence

Two lovers were canoodling on a park bench.

Recent Examples on the Web

At one point, the pair go from lying in bed canoodling to arguing in the kitchen. —Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 25 Oct. 2024

Also spotted: Marissa and Ramses canoodling in one of the Potomac hot tub boats, Nick and Hannah skydiving, Garrett and Taylor eating dinner in what appears to be an Artechouse immersive exhibit and aerial shots of what looks like a wedding at Great Marsh Estate in Bealeton, Virginia. —Mimi Montgomery, Axios, 9 Oct. 2024

Spend your time canoodling at the resort, book a day trip to explore Kingstown, the island’s capital, or visit Mustique and Bequia, neighboring Grenadine islands. —Mariette Williams, Essence, 23 Sep. 2024

The newlyweds who were married at the property holed up there, canoodling on the sunset-facing deck that overlooked the bay and eastern shores of Point Reyes. —Tasha Zemke, Outside Online, 20 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

perhaps from English dialect canoodle, noun, donkey, fool, foolish lover

First Known Use

1859, in the meaning defined above

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