To cuddle, hug, or kiss someone affectionately; to flirt or engage in romantic or intimate behavior.
Origin unknown, possibly from German 'Kauderwelsch' (gibberish) or onomatopoetic. Appeared in English around the 1850s, gaining popularity in American English as informal slang for intimate interaction.
This word is pure fun—it has zero formal pedigree and sounds silly on purpose, which is exactly why Victorian and Edwardian writers loved it for their gossip and romance novels—it's impossible to say 'canoodle' seriously.
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