I. ˈdalē, -li verb
( -ed/-ing/-es )
Etymology: Middle English dalyen, from Anglo-French dalier, perhaps of Germanic origin; akin to 16th century German dallen, tallen to talk foolishly, act frivolously
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to act playfully : play , sport , toy
dallying with a glass of wine — Victoria Sackville-West
the winter that merely dallies and trifles — Alfred Buchanan
especially : to play amorously
dallied with a young Mexican girl — Green Peyton
b. : to play mockingly
dallying with a serious proposition
2.
a. : to waste time (as in frivolity, idleness, or trifling)
b. : linger , delay , tarry
while the men dallied, the dogs set off — J.T.McNish
transitive verb
1. obsolete : to evade or delay by trifling
2. archaic : to consume or spend (as time) in dalliance or by dallying — used with away
dallying away precious time — Sir Walter Scott
Synonyms: see delay
II. “, ˈdäl- verb
( -ed/-ing/-es )
Etymology: Spanish ¡dale ( vuelta ) ! give it a turn!
intransitive verb
: to twist a rope around the saddle horn in roping an animal
his saddle stayed on better when he was dallying if the cinch was attached at the center — S.E.Fletcher
transitive verb
: to twist (a rope) in a dally
dallied the pack-horse rope around his saddle horn — A.B.Guthrie
III. noun
( -es )
: a temporary twisting of the rope around the saddle horn in roping an animal