starveling

American  

[stahrv-ling] / ˈstɑrv lɪŋ /

noun

1. a person, animal, or plant that is starving.

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adjective

1. starving; suffering from lack of nourishment.

2. pining with want.

3. poverty-stricken.

4. poor in condition or quality.

5. such as to entail or suggest starvation.

starveling British  

/ ˈstɑːvlɪŋ /

noun

1. 1. a starving or poorly fed person, animal, etc

   2. ( as modifier )

      a starveling child

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adjective

1. insufficient; meagre; scant

Etymology

Origin of starveling

First recorded in 1540–50; starve + -ling ¹

Example Sentences

He lived a Bohemian life, indolent, unspeakably shabby, a starveling writing silly verses.

From Time Magazine Archive

Instinctively they recognize in this starveling stray a truly independent spirit.

From Time Magazine Archive

From the starveling stepchild of industry, scientific experimentation has become an industry in itself?perhaps the key industry.

From Time Magazine Archive

Like many another Irishman, he sees the skull beneath the skin, just as his starveling heroes see the sharp rocks gnaw through the thin soil.

From Time Magazine Archive

She was lean, hard muscle, where Reek was loose, grey skin and brittle bones, a white-haired starveling.

From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin