foundling
An abandoned child, left by its parent(s), often a baby left at a convent or similar safe place.
Noun
- An abandoned child, left by its parent(s), often a baby left at a convent or similar safe place.
- foundling hospital
- In foundling hospitals, and among the children brought up by parish charities, the mortality is still greater than among those of the common people. - 1776, Adam Smith, An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the...
- Moses was a foundling; Jesus Christ was born in a stable; and Mahomet was a mule driver. - 1794, Thomas Paine, The Age of Reason (Part I):
Origin
From Middle English foundlyng, fondeyng, variants of Middle English fyndling, fyndlyng. By surface analysis, found + -ling.