nursling

A nursling is a noun meaning a young child who is nursed or cared for by a nurse, typically an infant or toddler who relies on a caregiver for feeding and general care. The term often appears in historical, religious, or literary contexts and can carry affectionate or paternalistic connotations.

Etymology and history: Nursling is formed from nurse plus the diminutive suffix -ling. It is attested in Middle English and early modern English texts. In past centuries, households, especially among the nobility, employed nurses to care for nurslings while parents fulfilled other duties.

Modern usage and nuances: In contemporary English, nursling is relatively rare outside poetry, historical fiction, or religious writing. It is not a clinical term; in medical or everyday usage, infant, baby, or neonate is preferred. The word can impart a quaint, pastoral, or sentimental tone and may appear in historical or poetic phrasing.

Related terms: Related concepts include nurse, nursery, and infant. The word signals a specific caregiver–child relationship and is most commonly encountered in non-modern or stylistic contexts.