Nestling
/ˈnɛs.tlɪŋ/noun
A young bird that has not yet left the nest; by extension, a small child or someone sheltered and dependent.
Did you know?Nestling is built from Old English *nest* plus the suffix *-ling*, an ancient Germanic ending that can imply “small,” “young,” or “belonging to,” so the word literally frames the creature as defined by its shelter.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*nid-
“to nest, settle down”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*nestam
“nest, resting place”
Old English
OE
nest
“a bird’s nest; a place of rest or lodging”
Old English
OE
-ling
“a diminutive or kinship suffix, often meaning “young one” or “offspring””
Middle English
ME
nestling
“a young bird in the nest”
Modern English
English
nestling
“a young bird that has not yet left the nest”