Dictionary

eggling en · NOUN · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• /ɛɡ.l̩.ɪŋ/
• /ɛɡ.lɪŋ/

Etymology

Presumably from *eggle (“to sell eggs”) + -ing. Compare eggler (“seller of eggs”).

Meanings

1. (archaic, uncountable) The sale of eggs; the trade of an eggler.
   • The death of Dobbin of old age had put an end to his master's eggling, for he had no capital with which to buy another horse. 1945, Flora Thompson, Lark Rise to Candleford:
   • No eggler will allow eggs to be contaminated, because he wants to sell at the best price he can get […] If the House says it is, then in my opinion the majority of those people must get out of eggling […] 1938, Ireland. Oireachtas. Dáil, Parliamentary debates; official report, volume 73, page 734:

eggling en · NOUN · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• /ɛɡ.lɪŋ/

Etymology

From egg + -ling.

Meanings

1. A small, miniature, undersized, or underdeveloped egg.
   • "Ode X" in 1834, Charles L. S. Jones, American Lyrics One Lovling scarcely's fledg'd. One, yet, An eggling still remains; A third, from forth the broken shell, In chirping notes, complains.
   • But now the little Other eggling was making loud peeping sounds. It was hungry. 2007, Robert J. Sawyer, Foreigner:

Forms