Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1500-1600
Origin: Perhaps from cull, coll 'to hug' (14-18 centuries), from Old French coler, from col 'neck'

cuddle

1 verb
     
cud‧dle1 [intransitive and transitive]
to hold someone or something very close to you with your arms around them, especially to show that you love them [↪ hug]:
Dawn and her boyfriend were cuddling on the sofa.

cuddle up

phrasal verb
to lie or sit very close to someone or something
cuddle up to/together
The children cuddled up to each other for warmth.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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