Green’s Dictionary of Slang

to cuddle, to caress sexually.

1837		‘Nights At Sea’ in Bentley’s Misc. June 625: A pretty place it is too of a Saturday night for a bit of John Canooing, and a bite of pigtail, let alone the grog and the gals.
1927		in G. Legman Limerick (1953) 10: Winter is here with his grouch, / The time when you sneeze and slouch. / You can’t take your women / Canoein’ or swimmin’, / But a lot can be done on a couch.
1947		in G. Legman Limerick (1953) 61: Simple shagging / Without any wagging / Is only for screwing canoeing.
1954		Louis Armstrong Satchmo 154: Her old man had been hearing about me and Daisy canoeing [W&F].