nestle

verb
/ˈnɛsəl/

Etymology

From Middle English nestelen, nestlen, from Old English nistlan, nestlian, nistlian (“to make or build a nest”), from Proto-West Germanic *nistilōn (“to build or occupy a nest; nestle”), equivalent to nest + -le. Cognate with Middle Low German nëstelen (“to build a nest”), Dutch nestelen (“to nest, nestle”).

  1. inherited from *nistilōn — “to build or occupy a nest; nestle
  2. inherited from nistlan
  3. inherited from nestelen

Definitions

  1. To settle oneself comfortably and snugly.

  2. To press oneself against another affectionately.

  3. To lie half-hidden or in shelter.

    • The old shop nestled between the newer apartment buildings.
    • Their purpose was to fortify in some strong place of the wild and desolate country, and there to nestle till greater succours came.
  4. + 4 more definitions
    1. To build or sit upon a nest.

      • The kingfisher […] nestles in hollow banks.
    2. Of a bird

      Of a bird: to look after its young.

      • This assimilates them more nearly to the natural conditions when the hen nestles her chicks on the earth, whilst the warmth is given chiefly over their backs.
    3. To move or place into a comfortable position

      • She made no answer, but her fingers nervously nestled the leaves of a book.
      • With as little of movement as possible, Aeon nestled her head closer to his chest, even more inder his chin.
    4. A surname from German.

The neighborhood

Vish — recursive loop

No curated loop yet for nestle. Loops are being traced one word at a time while the ingestion pipeline matures.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA