Malapropisms: mother cuddled

We've had an email from a 'secret admirer' (well, it is Valentine's day). She says:

I heard a good Smithism (or malapropism) the other day: a friend at work referred to somebody as having been mother cuddled as a child. I think the word he was looking for was mollycoddled!

Very nice.

But I wonder whether there is a connection between 'cuddled' and the 'coddled' of mollycoddled. The Concise OED says on coddle: C16, origin uncertain; in the sense 'treat in an indulgent or overprotective way', is probably a dialect variant of caudle (obsolete), 'administer invalids' gruel'.

On cuddle, all it says is: C16, of unknown origin. So I wouldn't be surprised if they were cognates. Anyone know?

Smithisms

One of our sales reps is renowned for his interesting turn of phrase and ability to mangle idioms. For your pleasure, here are a few his best expressions from over the years:

• A bit old in the tooth and green behind the ears

• He's ruffled my cage

• He's as sharp as a button

• What's the point in shooting yourself in the back?

• I wouldn't trust them with a bargepole

• I bet he's spitting chips