–verb (used with object), verb (used without object), -joled, -jol⋅ing.
to persuade by flattery or promises; wheedle; coax.
Origin: 1635–45; < F cajoler to cajole or chatter like a jaybird, appar. deriv. of *cajole birdcage (< LL caveola < L cave(a) cage+ -olaole1) + -er inf. suffix
To persuade by flattery, gentle pleading, or insincere language.
To elicit or obtain by flattery, gentle pleading, or insincere language: The athlete cajoled a signing bonus out of the team's owner.
[French cajoler, possibly blend of Old French cageoler, to chatter like a jay (from geai, jai, jay; see jay2) and Old French gaioler, to lure into a cage (from gaiole, jaiole, cage; see jail).] ca·jol'er n., ca·jol'er·y (-jō'lə-rē) n., ca·jol'ing·ly adv.
1645, from Fr. cajoler, perhaps a blend of M.Fr. cageoler "to chatter like a jay," from gajole, southern dim. of geai "jay," and O.Fr. gaioler "to cage, entice into a cage."