Nestling

Nestling
Nestle Nes"tle, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Nestled}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Nestling}.] [AS. nestlian.] 1. To make and occupy a nest; to nest. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

The kingfisher . . . nestles in hollow banks. --L'Estrange. [1913 Webster]

2. To lie close and snug, as a bird in her nest; to cuddle up; to settle, as in a nest; to harbor; to take shelter. [1913 Webster]

Their purpose was to fortify in some strong place of the wild country, and there nestle till succors came. --Bacon. [1913 Webster]

The children were nestled all snug in their beds While visions of sugarplums danced in their heads. --Clement Clarke Moore (A Visit From St. Nicholas, (a poem [1823]) also called The {Night Before Christmas}). [PJC]

3. To move about in one's place, like a bird when shaping the interior of her nest or a young bird getting close to the parent; as, a child nestles. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • nestling — [nest′liŋ] n. [ME (akin to Ger nestling): see NEST & LING1] 1. a young bird not yet ready to leave the nest 2. a young child …   English World dictionary

  • Nestling — Nes tling n. 1. A young bird which has not abandoned the nest. Piers Plowman. [1913 Webster] 2. A nest; a receptacle. [Obs.] Bacon. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Nestling — Nes tling, a. Newly hatched; being yet in the nest. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Nestling — Nestling, 1) ein aus seinem Horste genommener junger Raubvogel, welcher zur Beize abgerichtet wird; 2) ein junger Vogel, so lange er sich noch im Neste befindet; 3) (Ukelei), eine Art Weißfisch …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Nestling — Nestling, junger Vogel, der noch im Nest ist; der nach Ausfliegen der Geschwister zurückbleibende junge Vogel; ein jung aus dem Nest genommener Raubvogel, der zur Beize abgerichtet werden soll …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • nestling — (n.) late 14c., bird too young to leave the nest, from NEST (Cf. nest) (n.) + dim. suffix LING (Cf. ling) …   Etymology dictionary

  • nestling — ► NOUN ▪ a bird that is too young to leave the nest …   English terms dictionary

  • nestling — [[t]ne̱stlɪŋ[/t]] nestlings N COUNT A nestling is a young bird that has not yet learned to fly. She fluttered around me like a mother bird at her nestlings. ...nestling cuckoos. Syn: fledgling …   English dictionary

  • nestling — UK [ˈnest(ə)lɪŋ] / US / US [ˈneslɪŋ] noun [countable] Word forms nestling : singular nestling plural nestlings a baby bird that has not learned to fly …   English dictionary

  • Nestling — Als Nestlinge werden Jungtiere bezeichnet, die als so genannte Nesthocker noch im Nest ihrer Eltern leben. Der Begriff Nestling wird sowohl auf den Nachwuchs der Vögel angewandt als auch auf den Nachwuchs von Nagetieren, also zum Beispiel auf… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

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