Forms: 3 kundel, pl. -les, 4 pl. kyndles, -(e)lis, 5 -yll, kindil, 7, 9 kindle. [Appears in early ME. (along with the cognate KINDLE v.2): app. a deriv. of cynd-, stem of ʓecynd, KIND sb. Cf. G. kind child.]

1

  † 1.  a. The young (of any animal), a young one. b. collect. A brood or litter (of kittens). Obs.

2

c. 1220.  Bestiary (Elephant) 620. Ðanne ȝe sal hire kindles beren, In water ȝe sal stonden.

3

a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 82. Heo is neddre kundel. Ibid., 200. Þe Neddre of attri Onde haue[ð] seoue kundles.

4

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 2. Joon baptist and crist clepede hem ypocritis and serpentis and addir kyndles.

5

1486.  Bk. St. Albans, F vj. A Litter of welpis, a kyndyll of yong Cattis.

6

1688.  R. Holme, Armoury, II. 132/1. [A company of] Cats [is] a Kindle. [An error of Holme.]

7

  2.  In kindle (of a hare): With young.

8

1877.  Daily News, 23 July, 2/6. A fine hare, and, sad to relate, a doe in kindle.

9

Mod. Advt.  3 pure Belgian hare does, in kindle.

10