Etymology

suckling

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Today it means: An infant that is still being breastfed (being suckled) by its mother. Full definition →

Middle English sukling
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suckling · noun1

  1. Middle English · inherited fromsukling
  2. English todaysuckling

From Middle English sukling, sukeling, sokeling, equivalent to suck + -ling. Cognate with Middle Dutch sogelinc (“suckling”), Dutch zuigeling (“suckling”), German Säugling (“suckling”).

suckling · verb, noun2

From suckle + -ing.

Suckling · proper noun3

Nickname from the noun suckling, perhaps for weak or baby-faced person.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.