foundling

[found-ling] /ˈfaʊnd lɪŋ/
noun
1.
an infant or small child found abandoned; a child without a known parent or guardian.
Origin
1250-1300; Middle English found(e)ling. See found1, -ling1
Can be confused
fondling, foundling.
Examples from the web for foundling
  • It is quite heavy and they put it on a table, and soon discover that it contains a foundling.
  • In the foundling home, many nursing infants died of childbed fever.
British Dictionary definitions for foundling

foundling

/ˈfaʊndlɪŋ/
noun
1.
an abandoned infant whose parents are not known
Word Origin
C13: foundeling; see find
Word Origin and History for foundling
n.

"deserted infant," c.1300, from Middle English founden "found," past participle of finden (see find (v.)) + diminutive suffix -ling. Cf. Dutch vondeling, German Findling.