dan·gle / ˈdanggəl/ • v. [intr.] hang or swing loosely: saucepans dangled from a rail | [tr.] they were dangling their legs over the water. ∎  [tr.] fig. offer (an enticing incentive) to someone.PHRASES: keep someone dangling keep someone in an uncertain position.DERIVATIVES: dan·gler / -glər/ n.dan·gly / -glē/ adj.

dangle XVI. of symbolic formation; cf. NFris, dangeln, Sw. dangla, Da. dangle, parallel to Icel., Sw. dingla, Da. dingle, of similar meaning; see -LE 2.