IPA: /ˈdændlər/
KK: /ˈdændlər/
A person who plays with a child by lifting them up and down, often in a playful manner.
The father enjoyed being a dandler, making his baby laugh as he lifted her into the air.
This word originates from Old English, meaning a person who dances or performs a dance. The term 'dandler' specifically refers to someone engaged in the act of dancing.
Think of someone who 'dances' — that's what a 'dandler' is, a person who performs a dance.