† mother's child Obs.
A person, chiefly in phrase every mother's child. (Cf. mother's son.)
| a 1300 K. Horn 664 (Camb. MS.) At hom lefte ffikenhild, Þat was þe wurste moder child. c 1305 St. Lucy 93 in E.E.P. (1862) 104 Beo ilad oþer ibore And þer schal menie a moder child. 1608 Dod & Cleaver Expos. Prov. xi-xii. 167 It was a fault in Dauid to swear so peremptorily that he would kill Nabal, his familie, and euery mothers child of them. 1692 R. L'Estrange Fables ccxvii. 190 We have our Failings, Every Mothers Child of us. |