DAD

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Daddled p. pr. & vb. n. Daddling. ] [ Prob. freq. of dade. ] To toddle; to walk unsteadily, like a child or an old man; hence, to do anything slowly or feebly. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. Prov. E. dad a large piece. ] The rotten body of a tree. [ Prov. Eng. ] Wright. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Diminutive of Dad. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

1. (Zool.) An arachnidan of the genus Phalangium, and allied genera, having a small body and four pairs of long legs; -- called also harvestman, carter, and grandfather longlegs. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) A name applied to many species of dipterous insects of the genus Tipula, and allied genera, with slender bodies, and very long, slender legs; the crane fly; -- called also father longlegs. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To walk unsteadily, as a child in leading strings, or just learning to walk; to move slowly. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

No sooner taught to dade, but from their mother trip. Drayton. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ Of. uncertain origin. Cf. Dandle, Daddle. ] To hold up by leading strings or by the hand, as a child while he toddles. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Little children when they learn to go
By painful mothers daded to and fro. Drayton. [ 1913 Webster ]