dally

Etymology 1

From Middle English dalyen, from Anglo-Norman delaier.

verb

1. To waste time in trivial activities, or in idleness; to trifle.
   […] after we by our presumptuous delays have put off God, and dallied with his grace; […] a. 1692, Isaac Barrow, The Danger and Mischief of Delaying Repentance
   […] we have trifled too long already about a matter of such infinite moment, it is perfect Madness to dally any longer. […] a. 1726, Benjamin Calamy, “A Sermon Preach'd on Ash-Wednesday”, in J. Calamy, editor, Sermons Preached Upon Several Occasions
2. (transitive, intransitive) To caress, especially of a sexual nature; to fondle or pet
3. To delay unnecessarily; to while away.

Etymology 2

Possibly from Spanish dale la vuelta (“twist it around”) by law of Hobson-Jobson, from dale + la + vuelta.

noun

1. Several wraps of rope around the saddle horn, used to stop animals in roping.
   What matters is now if he tied hard and fast, / Or tumbled his steer with a dally. 1947, Bruce Kiskaddon, Rhymes and Ranches

verb

1. To wind the lasso rope (ie throw-rope) around the saddle horn (the saddle horn is attached to the pommel of a western style saddle) after the roping of an animal
   The end of the top rope he dallied around the gooseneck trailer hitch. 2003, Jameson Parker, An Accidental Cowboy, page 89

Etymology 3

noun

1. (India) Alternative form of dolly (“offering of fruit or flowers”)
   We have known Mazagon and long-pod Beans to be thrown out of a dally, because they were full of seed! 1872, J. Frederick Pogson, Indian Gardening, page 19