The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Coddle \Cod"dle\ (k[o^]d"d'l), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Coddled
   (-d'ld); p. pr. & vb. n. Coddling (-dl[i^]ng).] [Cf.
   Prov. E. caddle to coax, spoil, fondle, and Cade, a. & v.
   t.] [Written also codle.]
   1. To parboil, or soften by boiling.
      [1913 Webster]

            It [the guava fruit] may be coddled.  --Dampier.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To treat with excessive tenderness; to pamper.
      [1913 Webster]

            How many of our English princes have been coddled at
            home by their fond papas and mammas!  --Thackeray.
      [1913 Webster]

            He [Lord Byron] never coddled his reputation.
                                                  --Southey.
      [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

coddle
    v 1: treat with excessive indulgence; "grandparents often pamper
         the children"; "Let's not mollycoddle our students!" [syn:
         pamper, featherbed, cosset, cocker, baby,
         coddle, mollycoddle, spoil, indulge]
    2: cook in nearly boiling water; "coddle eggs"

Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:

79 Moby Thesaurus words for "coddle":
   baby, bake, barbecue, baste, bay, blanch, boil, braise, brew,
   broil, brown, care for, caress, cater to, cherish, cocker, cook,
   cosset, cotton, cradle, cultivate, curry, dandle, devil, do,
   do to perfection, dry-nurse, favor, feed, fire, fondle, foster,
   fricassee, frizz, frizzle, fry, give way to, gratify, griddle,
   grill, heat, humor, indulge, lavish care on, mollycoddle, mother,
   much, nourish, nurse, nurture, oblige, oven-bake, pamper, pan,
   pan-broil, parboil, pat, pet, please, poach, prepare, prepare food,
   roast, satisfy, saute, scallop, sear, shirr, simmer, spoil,
   spoon-feed, steam, stew, stir-fry, suckle, sustain, toast,
   wet-nurse, yield to