canoodle

verb

ca·​noo·​dle kə-ˈnü-dᵊl 

canoodled; canoodling kə-ˈnü-dliŋ  -ˈnü-dᵊl-iŋ  ; canoodles

intransitive verb

informal

: to engage in amorous embracing, caressing, and kissing : pet, fondle

lovers canoodling in the park

… used to sit in the sun porch in the evening, among the geraniums and the begonias, whispering, holding hands, canoodling.

—Edna O'Brien

… widows in their sixties canoodle and exchange sweet nothings with boys a third of their age.

—Matthew Gwyther

Did you know?

The Foolish History of Canoodle

The origins of canoodle are obscure. Our best guess is that it may come from an English dialect noun of the same spelling meaning "donkey," "fool," or "foolish lover," which itself may be an alteration of the word noodle, meaning "a foolish person." That noodle, in turn, may come from noddle, a word for the head. The guess seems reasonable given that, since its appearance in the language around the mid-19th century, canoodle has been most often used jocularly for playful public displays of affection by couples who are head over heels in love.

Examples of canoodle in a Sentence

Two lovers were canoodling on a park bench.

Recent Examples on the Web

Less than two months ago, Andy Byron, the former CEO of Astronomer, resigned after a viral video captured him canoodling with the company’s chief people officer during a Coldplay concert. —Kim Elsesser, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025

Nestlé yesterday became the latest big company to fire a CEO for canoodling. —Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 2 Sep. 2025

In July a clip of Andy Byron, CEO of software development business Astronomer, which appeared to catch him canoodling with the firm's HR officer, Kristin Cabot, went viral online. —Marni Rose McFall, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Sep. 2025

The segment went awry last month after Byron and Cabot were captured canoodling. —EW.com, 19 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

perhaps from English dialect canoodle, noun, donkey, fool, foolish lover

First Known Use

1859, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for canoodle

• boodle
• doodle
• feudal
• noodle
• poodle

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!