dim. suffix, 1314, from O.E.
-ling a nominal suffix (not originally dim.), from P.Gmc.
*-linga-; attested in historical Gmc. languages as a simple suffix, but probably representing a fusion of the suffixes represented by Eng.
-le (cf.
icicle,
thimble,
handle), O.E.
-ol, -ul, -el; and
-ing, suffix indicating "person or thing of a specific kind or origin; in masc. nouns also "son of" (cf.
farthing,
atheling, O.E.
horing "adulterer, fornicator"). Both these suffixes had occasional dim. force, but this was only slightly evident in O.E.
-ling and its equivalents in Gmc. languages except O.N., where it commonly was used as a dim, suffix, esp. in words designating the young of animals (e.g.
gæslingr "gosling"). Thus it is possible that the dim. use that developed in M.E. is from O.N.
