wet nurse

¹

noun

1. a woman hired to suckle another's infant.

wet-nurse

²

[ wet-nurs ]

verb (used with object)

, wet-nursed, wet-nurs·ing.

1. to act as a wet nurse to (an infant).
2. to give excessive care or attention to; treat as if helpless:

   The warden is accused of wet-nursing his prisoners.

wet nurse

noun

1. a woman hired to suckle the child of another

verb

1. to act as a wet nurse to (a child)
2. informal.
   to attend with great devotion

Word History and Origins

Origin of wet nurse¹

First recorded in 1610–20

Origin of wet nurse²

First recorded in 1775–85

Example Sentences

A wet nurse is a woman who is lactating—producing breast milk—and feeds another woman’s baby.

From Literature

As such, the nursery was prepared, wet nurses were on call, and announcement letters were prepared and signed, leaving just the date of delivery and sex of the child to be filled in.

From National Geographic

These alternatives included milk from human wet nurses and animal milk.

From Scientific American

It is something I saw my mum do when she took care of a baby whose mother had died, until she could find a wet nurse.

From Literature

He sucks from his 100-year-old wet nurse’s papery nipples until “her pubis would pulsate and emanate a smell.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• cradle
• feed
• nourish