The Collaborative International Dictionary
Caudle \Cau"dle\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Caudled; p. pr. & vb. n. Caudling.]
To make into caudle.
Too serve as a caudle to; to refresh. [R.]
--Shak.
Caudle \Cau"dle\, n. [OF. caudel, F. chaudeau, dim. of LL calidum a sweet drink, fr. L. caidus warm. See Caldron.] A kind of warm drink for sick persons, being a mixture of wine with eggs, bread, sugar, and spices.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
"hot drink," late 13c., from Old North French caudel (Old French chaudel, 12c., Modern French chaudeau), from Medieval Latin caldellum, diminutive of caldum, neuter of Latin caldus "warm" (see calorie).
Wiktionary
n. A hot drink given to the sick, consisting of wine or ale, eggs, and bread. vb. 1 (context transitive English) To make into caudle. 2 (context transitive English) To serve as a caudle to; to refresh.
Wikipedia
A caudle is a British thickened and sweetened alcoholic hot drink, somewhat like eggnog. It was popular in the Middle Ages for its supposed medicinal properties.
Usage examples of "caudle".
Job Caudle was left in this briary world without his daily guide and nocturnal monitress, he was in the ripe fulness of fifty-seven.
Caudle knew what was happening, but he was too impressed with his new status as an integrationist to worry about such trivial matters as sales and profits.
Caudle cups, posset pots, and pipkins lined up on a shelf beside a gristmill and a meat mincer.
Job Caudle was one of the few men whom Nature, in her casual bounty to women, sends into the world as patient listeners.
Then, Caudle, you never need go to bed without something nice and hot.
Yes, corked whiskers on her dear face, - and she was a dear soul to you, Caudle, and you ought to be ashamed of yourself to see her ill-used.
But no: no man - not the best that ever trod, Caudle - should ever make me look so contemptible.
I took up the paper to-day, Caudle, you might have knocked me down with a feather!
Yes, - the Eel-Pie Island Railway - and among the Directors, Job Caudle, Esq.
Now, if I may boast of anything, Caudle, it is my propriety of manner the whole of my life.
FOOL (taking the plunge) Why, sirrah, why may a caudled fillhorse be deemed the brother to a hiren candle in the night?