A small or young crown; a princeling or young noble of minor importance.
From 'crown' + '-ling' (diminutive/pejorative suffix). The '-ling' suffix creates both small, cute versions and dismissive/minor versions of words (duckling, hireling, princeling).
The suffix '-ling' is tricky—it can be affectionate (duckling) or insulting (hireling, underling)—showing how the same suffix can work in opposite emotional directions!
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