Firstling
/ˈfɜːrst.lɪŋ/noun
The first offspring, product, or example of something, especially the firstborn of an animal.
Did you know?In the Hebrew Bible, “firstlings” of herds and flocks were singled out for sacrifice or dedication, giving the word a powerful ritual association with first fruits and divine ownership.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*per-
“Forward; before or in front of—an ancient root associated with precedence and priority.”
Proto-Germanic
Proto-Germanic
*furistaz
“Foremost or first; the superlative form underlying English first.”
Old English
Old English
fyrstling
“A firstborn animal or the first product of something; formed from fyrst, “first,” plus -ling.”
Middle English
Middle English
firsteling / firstling
“A firstborn creature or an initial product, with the spelling gradually becoming closer to modern firstling.”
Modern English
English
firstling
“The first offspring, result, or example; often used in religious or literary contexts.”