ˈwreckling Now dial.
[var. of reckling. Cf. wregling.]
A weak, puny, or dwarfish animal (or plant); spec. the smallest and weakest of a litter.
| 1601 Holland Pliny I. 530 It causeth it [sc. the vine] to seeme scortched and full of knots, yea and to grow like a dwarfe or wreckling. 1607 Markham Cavel. i. 48 When shee shoulde come to foale, shee would bring foorth nought but a wreckling. 1614 ― Cheap Husb., Swine xi. 94 Take the wreckling, or worst Pigge, and annoint it all ouer. 1781 [see reckling]. 1825– in dialect glossaries, etc. (N. Cy.; Nhb. to Warw.). |
| attrib. 1602 tr. Pastor Fido iv. viii. M 2 b, Too much I honour thee, poore weake and wreckling child. |