SUCKLING

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does Suckling mean? 

• SUCKLING (noun)
  The noun SUCKLING has 4 senses:

1. English poet and courtier (1609-1642)

2. an infant considered in relation to its nurse

3. a young mammal that has not been weaned

4. feeding an infant by giving suck at the breast

  Familiarity information: SUCKLING used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SUCKLING (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

English poet and courtier (1609-1642)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

Sir John Suckling; Suckling

Instance hypernyms:

courtier (an attendant at the court of a sovereign)

poet (a writer of poems (the term is usually reserved for writers of good poetry))

Sense 2

Meaning:

An infant considered in relation to its nurse

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

nurseling; nursling; suckling

Hypernyms ("suckling" is a kind of...):

babe; baby; infant (a very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A young mammal that has not been weaned

Classified under:

Nouns denoting animals

Hypernyms ("suckling" is a kind of...):

young mammal (any immature mammal)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Feeding an infant by giving suck at the breast

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

lactation; suckling

Hypernyms ("suckling" is a kind of...):

alimentation; feeding (the act of supplying food and nourishment)

 Context examples 

Neither Mr. Suckling nor me had ever any patience with them; and we used sometimes to say very cutting things!

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

“Plainly said and bravely spoken, my suckling friar,” roared a deep voice, and a heavy hand fell upon Alleyne's shoulder.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

She was sitting by the fire, suckling an infant, whose tiny hand she held against her neck.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

You would be amazed to hear how my brother, Mr. Suckling, sometimes flies about.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

When people come into a beautiful country of this sort, you know, Miss Woodhouse, one naturally wishes them to see as much as possible; and Mr. Suckling is extremely fond of exploring.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

Maple Grove will probably be my model more than it ought to be—for we do not at all affect to equal my brother, Mr. Suckling, in income.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

The very first subject after being seated was Maple Grove, “My brother Mr. Suckling's seat;”—a comparison of Hartfield to Maple Grove.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

A cousin of Mr. Suckling, Mrs. Bragge, had such an infinity of applications; every body was anxious to be in her family, for she moves in the first circle.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

You quite shock me; if you mean a fling at the slave-trade, I assure you Mr. Suckling was always rather a friend to the abolition.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

Mr. Suckling, who has been eleven years a resident at Maple Grove, and whose father had it before him—I believe, at least—I am almost sure that old Mr. Suckling had completed the purchase before his death.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)