dangle

Meaning

Verb

1. (intransitive) To hang loosely with the ability to swing.
2. (intransitive, slang) The action of performing a move or deke with the puck in order to get past a defender or goalie; perhaps because of the resemblance to dangling the puck on a string.
3. (transitive) To hang or trail something loosely.
4. (broadly, figuratively, transitive) To put forth as a possibility.
5. (dated, intransitive) To trail or follow around.
6. (intransitive) Of a patient: to be positioned with the legs hanging over the edge of the bed.
7. (transitive) To position (a patient) in this way.

Noun

1. An agent of one intelligence agency or group who pretends to be interested in defecting or turning to another intelligence agency or group.
2. (slang) The action of dangling; a series of complex stick tricks and fakes in order to defeat the defender in style.
3. A dangling ornament or decoration.

Synonyms

hang

swing

suspend

hang down

wave

👋

rock

🪨

dangling

sway

droop

oscillate

hang down loosely

sag

drop

waving

hang loosely

hang up

suspended

pull down

hanging down

lower

wobble

loll

shake up

shilly shally

slouch

stir

strand

swaying

tantalize

teeter

tempt

trail

turn on

vacillate

wabble

waver

bait

hang from

hinge upon

stroll about

wire

beetle

🪲

cling

cradle

depend

depend on

depend upon

devolve on

fall out

get stuck

Translations

se balancer

baumeln

suspendre

pendre

dondolare

ciondolare

pendiller

hängen

penzolare

balancer

pender

bungelen

pendouiller

osciller

gigoter

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈdæŋ.ɡl̩/

Etymology

Cognate with Danish: dingle

Cognate with Swedish: dangla

Cognate with Norwegian: dangla

In summary

Uncertain, but likely of North Germanic origin, akin to Danish dingle, dangle, Swedish dangla (“to swing about”), Norwegian dangla, perhaps via North Frisian dangeln; all possibly related to Old Norse dengja (“to hit”).