dry nurse

¹ American  

noun

1. a nurse who takes care of but does not breast-feed another's infant.

2. Informal. a person who tutors and guides an inexperienced person at work.

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dry-nurse ² American  

[drahy-nurs] / ˈdraɪˌnɜrs /

verb (used with object)

dry-nursed, dry-nursing

1. to act as a dry nurse to.

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dry nurse British  

noun

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

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verb

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

Etymology

Origin of dry nurse¹

First recorded in 1590–1600

Origin of dry-nurse²

First recorded in 1575–85

Example Sentences

It was not to be expected that Cecily, because she had given birth to a child, should of a sudden convert herself into a combination of wet and dry nurse, after the common model.

From The Emancipated by Gissing, George

"Clap on here, Peg," cried the woman to another, "and let's have this little midshipmite; I wants a baby to dry nurse."

From Peter Simple; and, The Three Cutters, Vol. 1-2 by Marryat, Frederick

A dry nurse must be found at once, a nurse competent to take every precaution and give the child every chance.

From Damaged Goods; the great play "Les avaries" by Brieux, novelized with the approval of the author by Brieux, Eugène

"Am I fated always to be the dry nurse of an embryo faction!" thought Vivian; and he watched earnestly the countenance of the Prince.

From Vivian Grey by Disraeli, Benjamin, Earl of Beaconsfield

The regiment, of course, is distributed among the ships, and the Fleet dry nurse 'em.

From Traffics and Discoveries by Kipling, Rudyard

Related Words

• cradle
• feed
• nourish