liefling

English

Etymology

Equivalent to lief +‎ -ling (compare darling = dear + -ling), perhaps from or modelled after Afrikaans liefling (“darling”), German Liebling (“darling”). Compare also loveling.

Noun

liefling (plural lieflings)

1. (South Africa) One held as lief or dear; a darling.
   • 1998, Leon Schuster, Leon Schuster's Lekker, Thick South African Joke Book - Page 271:

     'Really, liefling?' she says. Tell me what happened.'

   • 2001, Charl Fregona, The waiting place:

     "Listen, liefling, this has got nothing to do with them," he said. I shook my head. " It's not that, Riaan... it's Peter.

   • 2006, Michelle Bowers, Outstanding Justice:

     There was another word she called him sometimes; it had a funny sound to it, liefling. In truth she knew well that it meant 'darling'. She casually told him it meant 'dreamer'. He would remember those magical, special words, always.

   • 2007, Anne Landsman, The Rowing Lesson:

     Ma gives a long-suffering sigh. It's all my fault. You're paranoid, Stella. No—YOU'RE paranoid! Stop! Simon's cracking, broken voice rises up above the fray. Johannes is whispering into Marietjie's ear, My liefling.

   • 2012, Kenn Joubert, The Early Years:

     She simply dropped her face onto his chest and hugged him tight. Is this feeling running through my body, the feeling of . . . true love? “Kom, my liefling, we should hike first up the mountain—where we can talk.”

Anagrams

• lifeling