A young or immature blind person; an archaic or dialectal term for a blindling creature, often used contemptuously.
From 'blind' plus the diminutive suffix '-ling' (a young or small creature). This suffix appears in words like 'duckling,' 'sapling,' and 'underling,' typically creating terms for younger or smaller versions.
The suffix '-ling' is ancient and appears in countless words, but 'blindling' is particularly poignant because it suggests a child with blindness. The archaic nature of the term reflects how historical language often viewed disability—using diminutive suffixes to describe people with disabilities as somehow 'lesser.'
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