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Meaning of -ling in English:

-ling

Pronunciation /lɪŋ/

suffix

  • 1Forming nouns from nouns (such as hireling, sapling).

  • 2Forming nouns from adjectives and adverbs (such as darling, sibling, underling).

  • 3Forming diminutive words.

    • ‘gosling’
    1. 3.1Often with depreciatory reference.
      • ‘princeling’

Origin

Old English; -ling (sense 3) from Old Norse.