dry nurse

¹

noun

1. a nurse who takes care of but does not breast-feed another's infant. Compare wet nurse.
2. Informal. a person who tutors and guides an inexperienced person at work.

dry-nurse

²

[ drahy-nurs ]

verb (used with object)

, dry-nursed, dry-nurs·ing.

1. to act as a dry nurse to.

dry nurse

noun

1. a nurse who cares for a child without suckling it Compare wet nurse

verb

1. to care for (a baby or young child) without suckling

Word History and Origins

Origin of dry nurse¹

First recorded in 1590–1600

Origin of dry nurse²

First recorded in 1575–85

Example Sentences

I seem to need a dry nurse quite as much as my children.

From Project Gutenberg

The young man was more than content that Edward Ambrose should take charge of his literary affairs and "dry nurse him" through these early and in some ways very critical months of his fame.

From Project Gutenberg

You set back there if you want to, and play dry nurse to your twins—your family scandal on one arm and your governor’s boom on the other.

From Project Gutenberg

After the child had been weaned it was fed by the dry nurse and the mother with pap, made chiefly of honey.

From Project Gutenberg

I’m no dry nurse to fellows shy of sand.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• cradle
• feed
• nourish