Obs. [f. CAST ppl. a. or sb. + dim. suffix -LING.]
1. The offspring of an untimely birth, an abortion.
1580. Hollyband, Treas. Fr. Tong, Avorton, that which is brought forth before the tyme, a castling.
1611. Cotgr., Cadel, a castling, a starueling.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., 84. We should rather relie upon the urine in a Castlings bladder.
1664. Butler, Hud., II. II. 106/539. Castling Foles of Balams Ass.
1704. Worlidge, Dict. Rust. et Urb., s.v. Wet-Glover, Castling skins … are slender, thin, and gentle.
2. The second (or third) swarm which leaves a hive in the season; = CAST sb. 18. Also transf.
1609. C. Butler, Fem. Mon. (1634), 5. 17 [queen bees], whereof one went forth with the prime swarm, 5 were brought out dead fowr days before the Castling rose, other five came forth with the Castling.
1622–62. Heylin, Cosmogr. (1674), Introd. 6/1. Those Countries were of an elder Plantation, than to be a second or third Castling of some other Swarm.
1630. J. Levett, Ordering of Bees (1634), 27. When you have a second swarme or castling (as some call it).
1662. Stillingfl., Orig. Sacr., III. iv. § 11. 562. Not to have been that ancient people, but rather some latter Castlings.
Castling vbl. sb.: see CASTLE v.
