Etymology From Middle English dalien, from Anglo-Norman delaier. Doublet of delay.
1
To waste time in trivial activities, or in idleness; to trifle.
I wish, grave governor, 'twere in my power / To favour you; but 'tis my father's cause, / Wherein I may not, nay, I dare not dally.c. 1589–1590 (date written), Christopher Marlo[we], edited by Tho[mas] Heywood, The Famous Tragedy of the Rich Iew of Malta. […], London: […] I[ohn] B[eale] for Nicholas Vavasour, […], published 1633, →OCLC, (please specify the page):
[…] 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:
1 more example
[…] 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
Ambitransitive To caress, especially of a sexual nature; to fondle or pet
Not dallying with a Brace of Curtizans, / But meditating with two deepe Diuines:c. 1593 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Richard the Third: […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene iv], page 191, column 2:
Mr Dombey in the meantime stood bolt upright in the carriage like a highly respectable ghost, looking on too; while Cleopatra and the Major dallied as two ancient doves might do.1846 October 1 – 1848 April 1, Charles Dickens, Dombey and Son, London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1848, →OCLC:
2 more examples
So, at the sound of that stirring call to battle, George jumped away from the gentle arms in which he had been dallying; not without a feeling of shame (although his wife's hold on him had been but feeble), that he should have been detained there so long.1847 January – 1848 July, William Makepeace Thackeray, Vanity Fair […], London: Bradbury and Evans […], published 1848, →OCLC:
2024, The November Nethack Tournament achievements Dally with a foocubus
Etymology Possibly from Spanish dale vuelta (“twist it around”) by law of Hobson-Jobson, from dale + la + vuelta.
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:
dally
verb
Etymology Possibly from Spanish dale vuelta (“twist it around”) by law of Hobson-Jobson, from dale + la + vuelta.
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:
Dally
noun
Etymology Contraction of "Dalmatian Coast", from where many Croatian emigrants originated. Also spelt "Dallie"
The New Zealand wine industry and those who consume the wine it produces owe a huge debt of gratitude to the "Dallies" – the Croatians, and others from that part of eastern Europe who came here in the early 1900s and brought with them a passion for growing, making and drinking wine.2003, Warren Barton, Saluting Selaks: Let's drink to the 'Dallies':