coddle

Etymology

Probably from caudle. Compare British dialect caddle (“to coax, spoil, fondle”) and cade.

verb

1. (transitive) To treat gently or with great care.
2. (transitive) To cook slowly in hot water that is below the boiling point.
   a coddled egg
3. (transitive) To exercise excessive or damaging authority in an attempt to protect. To overprotect.

noun

1. An Irish dish comprising layers of roughly sliced pork sausages and bacon rashers with sliced potatoes and onions.
2. (archaic) An effeminate person.