nustle

English

Etymology

Compare nuzzle and nursle.

Verb

nustle (third-person singular simple present nustles, present participle nustling, simple past and past participle nustled)

1. (obsolete) To take care of fondly; to cherish; to nurse.
   • 1641, Richard Brathwaite, The Penitent Pilgrim, published 1847, page 144:

     And now by means of those worldly Lectures, which he had by my direction so gravely, and effectually read unto me, I became such a Proficient in Mammon's School, as those who long time had been nursed and nustled in it, could not come near me in the Practical part of a Worldling.

2. To settle oneself comfortably and snugly.
   • 1807, Sir Philip Sidney, “Policy and Government”, in Aphorisms of Sir Philip Sidney, volume 2, page 64:

     Old men, long nustled in corruption, scorn them that would seek reformation.

   • 2019, Fergus Henderson, Trevor Gulliver, “Blood Cake and Brown Sauce”, in The Book of St John: Over 100 Brand New recipes from London’s Iconic Restaurant:

     […] and yet black pudding is an essential feature of the English Breakfast plate, nustling in amongst the beans with a friendly and approachable demeanour.

Synonyms

• (foo): coddle, dandle; see also Thesaurus:pamper
• (settle oneself): nestle

References

• “nustle”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.

Anagrams

• lunets