To waste time by moving slowly or delaying action; to flirt or engage playfully in romance without serious intention.
Of uncertain origin, possibly from Old Norse dæla 'to deal or arrange' or from an imitative root suggesting dawdling. First appeared in English around 1570s with the sense of idle play.
This word has survived 450+ years largely because it sounds exactly like what it means—the double-L and soft sounds make it feel like you're dawdling through the word itself, which is a rare case where English pronunciation perfectly matches meaning.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.