kitling

From Middle English kiteling (“kitten, kit”), from Old Norse ketlingr (“kitten”), diminutive of kǫttr (“cat”), equivalent to cat +‎ -ling.

Cognate with Icelandic kettlingur (“kitten”), Faroese kettlingur (“kitten”), Norwegian ketling (“kitten”), Swedish källing (“kitten”), Danish killing (“kitten”). Compare English catling, of similar formation. See also kitten.

kitling (plural kitlings)

1. (archaic) Any young animal; cub, whelp, kit.
2. (now dialectal) A young cat; kitten.

• kittle

• kilting