Present participle of canoodle; engaging in cuddling, kissing, or affectionate intimate behavior.
Present participle formed from 'canoodle' plus '-ing,' the productive suffix for continuous action. Standard formation appearing in American slang literature by the 1880s.
The '-ing' form makes slang verbs sound like they're happening right now—'canoodling in the corner' has a completely different tone than 'they canoodle,' capturing the immediacy and awkwardness of catching couples being affectionate.
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