/ ˈfɒndl; NAmE ˈfɑːndl/ verb
[ vn ] to touch and move your hand gently over sb/sth, especially in a sexual way, or in order to show love
SYN caress
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WORD ORIGIN
late 17th cent. (in the sense pamper ): back-formation from obsolete fondling much-loved or petted person , from fond + -ling .