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nestling

UK:^*^*UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈnɛslɪŋ/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/ˈnɛstlɪŋ, ˈnɛslɪŋ/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(nest′ling, nes′ling)

From the verb nestle: (⇒ conjugate)
nestling is: ⓘClick the infinitive to see all available inflections: v pres p

nest•ling /ˈnɛstlɪŋ, ˈnɛslɪŋ/USA pronunciation n. [countable]

Birdsa bird too young to leave the nest.
a young child or infant.

nest•ling (nest′ling, nes′ling),USA pronunciation n.

Birdsa young bird not yet old enough to leave the nest.
a young child or infant.

1350–1400; Middle English; see nest, -ling¹

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

nestling /ˈnɛstlɪŋ; ˈnɛslɪŋ/ n

- a young bird not yet fledged
- (as modifier): a nestling thrush

Etymology: 14th Century: from nest + -ling¹

nes•tle /ˈnɛsəl/USA pronunciation v., -tled, -tling.

to lie close and snug;
snuggle;
cuddle: [no object]They were nestling in bed.[~ + object]She nestled herself in the chair.
to be located in a sheltered spot:[no object]a cottage nestling in a grove of leafy trees.

nes•tle (nes′əl),USA pronunciation v., -tled, -tling.
v.i.

to lie close and snug, like a bird in a nest;
snuggle or cuddle.
to lie or be located in a sheltered spot;
be naturally or pleasantly situated:a cottage nestling in a pine grove.
[Archaic.]
- to make or have a nest.
- to make one's home;
  settle in a home.

v.t.

to settle or ensconce snugly:He nestled himself into the hay for a short nap.
to put or press confidingly or affectionately:She nestled her head on his shoulder.
to provide with or settle in a nest, as a bird.

Middle English nestlen, Old English nestlian, cognate with Dutch nestelen. See nest, -le bef. 1000

nes′tler, n.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

nestle /ˈnɛs^əl/ vb

(intransitive; often followed by up or down) to snuggle, settle, or cuddle closely
(intransitive) to be in a sheltered or protected position; lie snugly
(transitive) to shelter or place snugly or partly concealed, as in a nest

Etymology: Old English nestlian. See nest

'nestling' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):

eyas - -ling - owlet - hoatzin - juvenal plumage - nestle - squab

Synonyms: fledgling, chick, infant, baby bird, more...

🗣️Forum discussions with the word(s) "nestling" in the title:

A histological <ground-section> from a duck-billed dinosaur nestling
Nestled/Nestling at the foot of the Pyrenees ...
nestling ponderosity
์Is this "nestling"?

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⇱ nestling - WordReference.com Dictionary of English

nestling