Word of the Day

Tuesday, June 01, 2004

starveling

\STARV-ling\ , noun;

One who is thin from lack of food, or who is starving or being starved.

adjective:

Being a starveling.

Poor in quality; inadequate.

Quotes:

Even a starveling could look musclebound if he had enough gear on.

-- Michel Faber, Under the Skin

In her privations she is like Bjartur's starveling sons.

-- Annie Dillard, "Hard Times in Ultima Thule", New York Times, April 20, 1997

Our meagre starveling way of preparing teachers degrades the schools and the profession.

-- Samuel P. Orth, "Plain Facts About Public Schools", The Atlantic, March 1909

Origin:

Starveling is from starve (from Old English steorfan, "to die") + the suffix -ling (from Old English).