dry nurse

¹

noun

1. a nurse who takes care of but does not breast-feed another's infant. Compare wet nurse.
2. Informal. a person who tutors and guides an inexperienced person at work.

dry-nurse

²

[ drahy-nurs ]

verb (used with object)

, dry-nursed, dry-nurs·ing.

1. to act as a dry nurse to.

dry nurse

noun

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

verb

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of dry nurse¹

First recorded in 1590–1600

Origin of dry nurse²

First recorded in 1575–85

Example Sentences

With a Konigseck to dry-nurse him, may not Royal Highness, luck favoring, do very well?

From Project Gutenberg

I am not going to dry-nurse a girl at the age of fifty-four.

From Project Gutenberg

You'll be a dry nurse to a burro, and keep a hospital for infirm puppies, but you will fight game cocks.

From Project Gutenberg

Nothing could be more amusing than the solemnity with which the youngster performs his function of dry nurse.

From Project Gutenberg

My dry-nurse never desires anything of me that is not reasonable, and for my own good; and therefore I like to be with him.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• cradle
• feed
• nourish