birdling

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English

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Pronunciation

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Etymology 1

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From bird +‎ -ling.

Noun

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birdling (plural birdlings)

  1. A little bird; birdie; a nestling (young bird, baby bird).
    • 1872, John Hay et al., Not Pretty, But Precious[1]:
      Clasped, love, close to thy heart, thy birdling Foldeth her wings in peace-- Trusts, love! feeling nor cold nor shadow, Finding at last her ease, From fear a safe release, Heart's love, with thee."
    • 1913, John L. Stoddard, Poems[2]:
      Nay, fear not, birdling! let me gently Uplift and hold thee in my hand; Thou gazest on me so intently, Thou must my motive understand.

Translations

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Etymology 2

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From Old English byrdling; from Proto-Germanic *burdilingaz (equivalent to bord +‎ -ling).

Noun

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birdling (plural birdlings)

  1. (dialectal, rare) A turtle

Anagrams

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