wet nurse
a woman hired to suckle another's infant.
Origin of wet nurse
1Other definitions for wet-nurse (2 of 2)
to act as a wet nurse to (an infant).
to give excessive care or attention to; treat as if helpless: The warden is accused of wet-nursing his prisoners.
Origin of wet-nurse
2Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use wet nurse in a sentence
She was the patron saint of flax-spinners, of procurers of wet-nurses, of vellum-dressers, and of bleachers of wool.
The Life of Joan of Arc, Vol. 1 and 2 (of 2) | Anatole FranceThere are other good wet-nurses who have the physical condition described, but whose breasts are small.
The Physical Life of Woman: | Dr. George H NapheysThe employment of wet-nurses has produced a much more favorable result.
The Physical Life of Woman: | Dr. George H NapheysThe fairies abduct human children, leaving 'changelings' in cradles, or carry off wives to act as 'wet nurses' or midwives.
The New Gresham Encyclopedia | VariousThe women from the neighboring mountain province of Asturias are the professional wet-nurses of Spain.
Influences of Geographic Environment | Ellen Churchill Semple
British Dictionary definitions for wet nurse
a woman hired to suckle the child of another
to act as a wet nurse to (a child)
informal to attend with great devotion
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
Browse