foundling

[found-ling]

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noun

an infant or small child found abandoned; a child without a known parent or guardian.

RELATED WORDS

castaway, waif

Origin of foundling

First recorded in 1250–1300, foundling is from the Middle English word found(e)ling. See found¹, -ling¹

Can be confusedfondling foundling

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for foundling

Historical Examples of foundling

I can put it for you in a breath--I am an English gentleman; you are a Dutch foundling!
In the Valley
Harold Frederic
It was she who brought up the two foundling children, Marjolin and Cadine.
A Zola Dictionary
J. G. Patterson
The child was left at the Foundling Hospital in my presence.
Fruitfulness
Emile Zola
And he certainly has a lad from the Foundling, of the age you mention, at his place.
Fruitfulness
Emile Zola
For might not the kitten, he thought, be more than Peggy's foundling be the other Thing disguised?
Gilian The Dreamer
Neil Munro

British Dictionary definitions for foundling

foundling

noun

an abandoned infant whose parents are not known

Word Origin for foundling

C13: foundeling; see find

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for foundling

"deserted infant," c.1300, from Middle English founden "found," past participle of finden (see find (v.)) + diminutive suffix -ling. Cf. Dutch vondeling, German Findling.