yearling

[ yeer-ling ]

/ ˈyɪər lɪŋ /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR yearling ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

an animal in its second year.

a horse one year old, dating from January 1 of the year after the year of foaling.

adjective

being a year old.

of a year's duration or standing: a yearling bride.

RELATED WORDS

nursling, weanling

Nearby words

Origin of yearling

1425–75; late Middle English; see year, -ling¹; cognate with German Jährling

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

Examples from the Web for yearling

Silence; nothing stirred except the yearling who had returned to the mast and was eagerly nosing among the acorns.
The Danger Mark|Robert W. Chambers
Ranchmen in Oklahoma told the writer that in winter yearling cattle in good condition are sometimes killed by coyotes.
Coyotes in Their Economic Relations|David E. Lantz
And suddenly the monster rushed at him with a squeal, and the yearling shrieked and fled, chased clear up the slope.
The Danger Mark|Robert W. Chambers
One of the men cut them a liberal piece from a yearling that they had just butchered.
Hope Hathaway|Frances Parker

"I'll take that red steer," said Dell with marked decision, pointing out a yearling.
Wells Brothers|Andy Adams

British Dictionary definitions for yearling

yearling

/ (ˈjɪəlɪŋ) /

noun

the young of any of various animals, including the antelope and buffalo, between one and two years of age

a thoroughbred racehorse counted for racing purposes as being one year old until the second Jan 1 following its birth

a bond that is intended to mature after one year
(as modifier)yearling bonds

adjective

being a year old

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 yearling

yearling

mid-15c., from year + -ling.