penelopize

Etymology
, from the account in 's Odyssey of, who stalled her many suitors while she wove a shroud which she unraveled nightly to prolong the process.

Verb

 * 1)  To create a delay by undoing what has previously been done, sometimes possibly with the intention of redoing it and repeating this cycle.
 * 2) * 1841,, "Speech of Mr. Benton, of Missouri, on the Case of McLeod," p. 3 (Google preview):
 * Diplomacy was still drawing out its lengthened thread — still weaving its long and dilatory web — still Penelopizing — when the same McLeod, the boaster in Canada of his active share in this triple crime of midnight murder, arson, and robbery, crosses over to the American side and repeats, in the hearing of Americans, and on the spot which had been the scene of his exploit, the audacious boast of his participation in it.

Synonyms

 * ,, ; See all Thesaurus:procrastinate