Princeling
/ˈprɪnslɪŋ/noun
A young or minor prince, or a prince regarded as insignificant.
Did you know?The ending -ling can make a word feel small or dismissive, so ‘princeling’ often carries the uneasy sense of someone born to rule but not yet fully worthy of it.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
prīnce
“A prince or ruler's son”
14th Century
Middle English
prince
“A prince, nobleman, or ruler”
15th Century
Middle English
princeling
“A little prince; a young or petty prince”
Modern English
English
princeling
“A young prince, especially one considered insignificant or overprivileged”