childe

1. obsoleteObsolete form of child.

   A good childe is to obey a wicked father as he is a father, [... as] children to their parents.

   1637, An Exposition of the Epistle of Saint Paul to the Colossians, Delivered in Sundry Sermons, by Edward Elton ... The Third Edition, Corrected and Revised. [With the Text.], page 558

   2 more examples

   I will that non childe of myne have any childe's parte of my goodes saving thies childer here in my will namyd, […]

   1524, will of William Butler of Brotton Juxta Gisburne, quoted in 1884, The Publications of the Surtees Society, page 190

   It'm I gyue & bequithe vnto my Mr iij childringe my beste coalte […] It'm I bequithe & gyue vnto yt childe yt my wiffe is wth all at this p'sente fortie […]

   1570, will of John Hauelocke of Newcastle upon Tyne, quoted in 1835, James Raine, William Greenwell, John Crawford Hodgson, Wills and Inventories Illustrative of the History, Manners, Language, Statistics: &c., of the Northern Counties of England, from the Eleventh Century Downwards, page 325

2. A child of noble birth.
3. The cognomen given to the oldest son prior to his taking his father's title.

   Childe Rowland to the dark tower came. His word was still "Fie, foh, and fum, I smell the blood of a British man."

   c. 1607, William Shakespeare, King Lear, act 3, scene 4

4. plural childerfantasyA vampire who was turned by another vampire (the childe's sire) in a particular way.

   The blood loss involved in creating a childe takes a lot out of the vampire sire.

   2012, Molly Harper, Nice Girls Don't Bite Their Neighbors, page 23

   2 more examples

   She had waded in blood and reveled in death, she had torn her enemies asunder with shadow and given their childer to the flame.

   1999, Kathleen Ryan, Clan Novel: Ravnos

   Alexander, the ancient vampire who has ruled Paris for many centuries, has been deposed by his own childe, Sir Geoffrey.

   2003, Janet Trautvetter, Dark Ages: Toreador, page 5

plural Childes

1. A surname.

1. UKhistoricalno pluralA term of address for the eldest son of a lord or for a candidate for knighthood.

   Childe Harold