nestling

[ nest-ling, nes-ling ]

noun

1. a young bird not yet old enough to leave the nest.
2. a young child or infant.

nestling

/ ˈnɛslɪŋ; ˈnɛstlɪŋ /

noun

1. 1. a young bird not yet fledged
   2. ( as modifier )

      a nestling thrush

2. any young person or animal

Word History and Origins

Origin of nestling¹

First recorded in 1400–50; Middle English; nest, -ling ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of nestling¹

C14: from nest + -ling ¹

Example Sentences

You’ll see egrets and herons in the tidal wetlands of the Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge and perhaps even snowy plovers nestling in the dunes or pecking for insects in the wet sand.

From Los Angeles Times

That plot point was a bit of “amazing synchronicity,” Starr said, because he had been thinking about talking to Kripke about nestling some of his own existential feelings about aging into Homelander.

From Los Angeles Times

At more than 250 of these, nestlings were attacked and killed, and eggs were destroyed.

From Science Magazine

As the nestlings developed, they also showed worrying development signs.

From Science Magazine

When feeding their nestlings, the birds enter the nest one at a time.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• baby
• boy
• daughter
• girl
• juvenile
• kid
• minor
• offspring
• son
• youngster
• youth