arch. Forms: see YOUNG. [OE. ʓeongling = OS. iungling (MLG., Du. jongelinc, Du. jongeling), OHG., MHG. jungeling (G. jüngling), whence Icel. unglingr: see YOUNG and -LING.]
1. One who is young; a young person, young man or woman, youth or child, youngster.
c. 900. Wærferth, Gregory’s Dial. (1900), 89/2. Us utgangendum com onʓean sum iungling.
c. 1160. Hatton Gosp., Matt. xviii. 2. Þa clypede se hælend enne ʓeongling & sette on heora midlen.
c. 1205. Lay., 28681. Siȝen toward hirede ȝeonglinges snelle.
a. 1300. Floriz & Bl., 705. Floriz was so fair ȝongling, And blauncheflur so suete þing.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), I. 165. Dido … went oute of Phenicia wiþ a grete companye of ȝonglynges i-chose.
c. 1450. in Cov. Myst. (Shaks. Soc.), 414. This pore yongling For whom we do singe By, by, lully, lullay.
1481. Churchw. Acc., Croscombe (Somerset Rec. Soc.), 9. Comes yonglens and presents in Rich. Costrell’s hands … vjs. xd.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, X. xiii. 155. O douchty ȝingling [Virg. puer].
1522. Skelton, Why not to Court, 345. He is but an yonglyng, A stalworthy stryplyng.
1578. H. Wotton, Courtlie Controv., 95. This vertuous youngling … made hir hearing deafe vnto his sugred talke.
1620. Quarles, Feast for Wormes, G 3. Like as a yongling that to schoole is set, (Scarce weaned from his dandling mothers tet).
1779. Johnson, Lett. to Mrs. Thrale, 16 Oct. You say nothing of the younglings; I hope they are not spoiled with the pleasures of Brighthelmston, a dangerous place, we were told, for children.
1837. Hood, in Mem. (1860), I. 280. Little Tom is a capital traveller,… our trouble was less than might have been expected with such a youngling.
1876. Morris, Sigurd, I. 65. The smooth-lipped youngling’s kiss.
fig. 1812. J. Jebb, Corr. (1834), II. 116. He recommended me to publish. England I have looked to as the proper sphere in which to bring my youngling out.
1880. W. Watson, Prince’s Quest, IX. A grassy vale … Where … a pure stream ran, as yet A youngling.
b. A young animal; the young or offspring of an animal.
c. 1220. Bestiary, 667. Ðanne remen he alle a rem,… For here mikle reming rennande cumeð a ȝungling.
1576. Baker, Gesner’s Jewell of Health, 51 b. This druncke in lyke quantitie … expelleth the youngling dead.
1596. Edw. III., III. i. 119. Be like the fielde of Beares, When they defend their younglings in their Caues!
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., III. vi. 116. The parturition or very birth it selfe: wherein not only the Dam, but the younglings play their parts.
1772. Mackenzie, Man of World, I. ii. (1773), 39. The linnet … was bringing out her younglings to their first imperfect flight.
1807. Wordsw., White Doe, VII. 256. A spotless Youngling white as foam.
1883. A. M. Mayer, in Century Mag., XXVI. 487/1. If rain should come on, or the cold wind blow, the mother calls her younglings under her wings.
c. A young plant, sapling; a young shoot or blossom of a plant.
1559. Morwyng, Evonymus, 382. The yonglinges or shoutes of bremble.
1818. Keats, Endym., I. 138. Each having a white wicker over brimm’d with April’s tender younglings.
a. 1822. Shelley, Coliseum, Ess. (1840), I. 174. The shattered masses of precipitous ruin, overgrown with the younglings of the forest.
† 2. A young scholar or student, a disciple; a beginner, novice, tiro; one who is unpractised or inexperienced (usually with implication of actual youth). Obs.
a. 1175. Cott. Hom., 237. Þa apostles and hare iunglenges.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), I. 387. He seiþ þat Chadde was a ȝongelyng, and lerned the rule of monkes in Hibernia.
1548. Udall, Erasm. Par. N. T., To Rdr. B vj b. Younglynges in the feith.
1590. Sir J. Smythe, Disc. Weapons, 34 b. Whose weapons of fire … doo … terrifie … yonglings and nouices of warre.
1649. Ambrose, Media, x. (1652), 277. Let our Lord Iesus his tender-heartedness in Spiritual younglings, teach us mercy this way.
1682. T. Flatman, Heraclitus Ridens, No. 78 (1713), II. 226. From the Seminary there, a small Detachment was made of Yonglings that were got as far as Asserit A, negat E.
3. attrib. a. That is a ‘youngling’; young, youthful; † inexperienced (obs.).
1382. Wyclif, Judges xviii. 3. Knowynge the voys of the ȝonglynge Leuyte.
1595. Markham, Trag. Sir R. Grinuile, Ep. Ded. A 2. Fler to my hart, & wings to my youngling Muse.
1664. Power, Exp. Philos., I. 15. The youngling Spiders (that were either hatching, or newly hatch’d).
1785. Burns, Cotter’s Sat. Nt., xviii. The youngling Cottagers retire to rest.
1800. Wordsw., Idle Sheph.-Boys, 6. The mountain raven’s youngling brood.
1880. L. Morris, Ode of Life, 45. Since Artemis first trod the youngling earth.
b. Pertaining to or characteristic of a ‘youngling’; juvenile, immature; in quot. a. 1616, belonging to the production or rearing of young.
1582. T. Watson, Cent. Love, To Rdr. A 4. Idle toyes proceedinge from a youngling frenzie.
1615. Brathwait, Strappado (1878), 77. To thee (young youth) these youngling lines I write.
a. 1616. Beaum. & Fl., Wit at Sev. Weapons, II. i. You have built a Nest That will stand all storms,… and one day it may be The youngling season too, then I hope You’ll ne’er fly out of sight.
