Also 6 weak(e)lyng, weikling, Sc. waykling, 6–7 weakeling. [f. WEAK a. + -LING1. Cf. G. weichling effeminate man.]
† 1. An effeminate or unmanly person. Obs.
1526. Tindale, 1 Cor. vi. 9. Nether fornicators,… nether whormongers, nether weaklinges [μαλακοί; Luther, weichlinge].
1600. Holland, Livy, XXXIII. xxviii. 840. Men were much deceived to thinke, that so horrible and straunge a murder was committed by such weaklings and persons as they were [qui tam atrocem caedem pertinere ad illos semiviros crederent].
2. A person or animal that lacks physical strength, or is weak in health or constitution.
1576. Fleming, Panopl. Epist., 358. Will you lay a heauie and weightie burthen, vppon the … shoulders of a young beginner, of a weakling, of an infant, which is able to make Demosthenes sincke vnder it, and falter to the grounde?
1579–80. North, Plutarch, Hannibal (1595), 1143. There it was that Annibals souldiers … became then of valiant men, rancke cowardes: of strong menne weakelings.
1593. Shaks., Lucr., 584. Thy selfe art mightie,… My selfe a weakling, do not then insnare me.
1609. Holland, Amm. Marcell., 133. Hewen in pieces they were pell-mell one with another, armed souldiors and unarmed weaklings, and no regard of sex was made.
1641. Milton, Animadv., 31. Like a carved Gyant terribly menacing to children, and weaklings.
1684. J. S., Profit & Pleas. United, 2. It will … cause her [the Cow] to produce weaklings, or unhealthy Calves.
1697. J. Puckle, New Dial., 33. Of pitiful Weaklings at Land, they come to be hardy, stout, and healthfull Persons.
1822. Lamb, Elia, Roast Pig. The strong man may batten on him [the pig], and the weakling refuseth not his mild juices.
1850. Kingsley, Alton Locke, iv. Shakspeare was lame; Alfred, a rickety weakling.
1881. Besant & Rice, Chapl. of Fleet, II. viii. I say nothing for that poor weakling, that hot-house plant, [etc.].
1889. Spectator, 27 April, 571/2. The caravans must have dropped many dead weaklings, men and beasts alike, in every hundred miles.
fig. 1648. Jenkyn, Blind Guide, i. 14. So poor a weakling, and so mishapen a monster it [sc. a book] is, that … none will doubt it for his.
3. One who is weak in character or intellect.
1577–87. Holinshed, Chron., III. 1121/2. Those honest men that had beene of Throckmortons quest … submitted themselues, and said they had offended like weakelings.
1616. Hayward, Sanct. Troub. Soul, I. xiv. (1620), 290. What then shall I doe, wretched weakeling? Shall I speake? or shall I be silent? I must not bee silent, and I cannot speake.
a. 1656. Hales, Serm., Golden Rem. I. (1673), 47. Weaklings are able to begin a quarrel, but the prosecution and finishing is a work for stronger men.
1844. Thirlwall, Greece, lxvi. VIII. 448. If they were men they would be in no want of allies, nor, if weaklings, of masters.
1884. Browning, Ferishtah’s Fancies, i. 28. Should he play The helpless weakling, or the helpful strength That captures prey and saves the perishing?’
1896. W. Watson, Purple East, 36.
| Only the witling’s sneer, the worldling’s smile, | |
| The weakling’s tremors, fail him not who fain | |
| Would rouse to noble deed. |
b. One who is a tiro or unskilled in (a subject).
1575. Fleming, Virg. Bucol., Ep. Ded. A iij. Leauing nothing vnsifted which might appertaine to the vttermost exposition of these Bucolikes, that weakelinges in Poetrie myght rather be supported then suppressed.
4. One who is weak in the faith or in spiritual attainments.
Common in 16–17th centuries.
1548. Udall, Erasm. Par. Mark i. 9–11. A ministre … muste … eschew all thinges wherwith the weakelinges may be offended.
1577. Hanmer, Socr. Schol. Eccl. Hist., III. vii. 304. Eusebius … confirmed like a cunning Phisicion such as were weakelings in the faith.
1657. Owen, Commun. with God, II. iii. Digress. ii. 123. We that can doe nothing in our selves, we are such weaklings, can doe all things in Jesus Christ, as Giants.
1865. C. Stanford, Symb. Christ, vii. 201. Many a weakling has thought himself strong.
5. appositive or as adj. Weak, feeble.
1557. Grimald, in Tottel’s Misc. (Arb.), 102. Hee shall, for man, a weaklyng woman prooue.
1821. Lamb, Elia, Mackery End. In the days of weakling infancy I was her tender charge.
1848. Kingsley, Saint’s Trag., II. v. But now to wash Christ’s feet were dangerous honour For weakling grace.
1906. Times Lit. Suppl., 13 July, 246/1. The author does not spare himself, and he does not spare the weakling reader.
