Obs. exc. dial. Also 6 tideling (-ynge), 9 dial. tiddling. [? deriv. of TIDDLE v. 1 or TID a. see -LING1.] A pampered or spoilt child; a darling, pet; a young, delicate, or puny child or animal, needing special care; a weakling, ‘dilling.’
1520. Whitinton, Vulg., 37 b. These cokeneis and tidelynges wantonly brought vp.
c. 1553. Nice Wanton, in Hazl., Dodsley, II. 164. She for their sake, Being her tender tidlings, will me beat. [Cf. Ibid., 173 [referring to the same persons]. My parents did tiddle me: they were to blame; Ibid., 174. Yet were we tiddled, and you beaten now and then.]
c. 1580. Jefferie, Bugbears, III. i., in Archiv Stud. Neu. Spr. (1897). The gray beard daunceth, and fareth as he weare dame venus tideling.
1657. Trapp, Comm. Ps. iii. Introd. Absalom his Son, his Darling, his Tidling, his one Eye.
1904. Eng. Dial. Dict., s.v. Tiddle, Tiddling, (a) a young animal, esp. a lamb, brought up by hand; a delicate child needing care; (b) the smallest pig in a litter.
