[f. prec. sb. In literary use, chiefly of 19th c.] trans. To treat as a cosset; to fondle, caress, pet, indulge, pamper.
1659. Gauden, Tears of Ch., 375. Episcopacy … was even pampered and cosetted by so excessive a favour.
a. 1825. Forby, Voc. E. Anglia, Cosset, to fondle.
1857. Sir F. Palgrave, Norm. & Eng., II. 800. Henry, so cosseted during babyhood and boyhood by his grandmother.
1859. H. Kingsley, G. Hamlyn, xxvi. (D.). I have been cosseting this little beast up.
1860. Emerson, Cond. Life, i. (1861), 7. Nature is no sentimentalist—does not cosset or pamper us.
b. intr. or absol.
1871. B. Taylor, Faust (1875), II. III. 201. Probe and dally, cosset featly, Test your wanton sport completely.
1889. H. Weir, Our Cats, 11. Another [cat] would cosset up close to a sitting hen.
