changelings

Noun

changeling (plural changelings)

1. (European, also, figuratively) In pre-modern European folklore: an infant of a magical creature that was secretly exchanged for a human infant. In British, Irish and Scandinavian mythology the exchanged infants were thought to be those of fairies, sprites or trolls; in other places, they were ascribed to demons, devils, or witches.
   • [S]he, as her attendant, hath / A louely boy ſtollen, from an Indian king: / She neuer had ſo ſweete a changeling.[c. 1595–1596 (date written), William Shakespeare, A Midsommer Nights Dreame. […] (First Quarto), London: […] [Richard Bradock] for Thomas Fisher, […], published 1600, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i]

   Synonyms:

   oaf, swapling

2. (broadly) A person or object (especially when regarded as inferior) secretly exchanged for something else.
   • When I firſt read Mr. Walker’s Circular Letter to the Arch-deacons, I fancied he intended to give us an Account of thoſe worthy Men, […] But after about ten Years going with this Work, and that the Time of its Birth was come, I ſoon found it to be a perfect Changeling. Inſtead of what I expected it...1717, [John Lewis], A Few English Notes on a Late Sermon Preached before the Sons of the Clergy by Dr. [Thomas] Bisse, Intended to Vindicate the English Reformation from the Charge of Sacrilege...
3. (broadly, informal, rare) An infant secretly exchanged with another infant deliberately or by mistake; a swapling.
4. An organism which can change shape to mimic others; a shape-shifter.

   Synonyms:

   shape-shifter, shapeshifter, shifter

5. (also, archaic, figuratively) A person apt to change their loyalty or thinking; a waverer.
   • To face the garment of rebellion / With ſome fine colour that may pleaſe the eye / Of fickle changlings and poore diſcontents, / Which gape and rub the elbow at the newes / Of hurly-burly innouation, […]c. 1597 (date written), [William Shakespeare], The History of Henrie the Fourth; […], quarto edition, London: […] P[eter] S[hort] for Andrew Wise, […], published 1598, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i]

   Synonyms:

   turncoat, withersake, apostate, balimbing, butterfly, defector, runagate, traitor, transfuge, turncloak

6. (obsolete) An idiot, a simpleton.
   • They alſo obſerue Lunaticks and changelings, and the Coniurer writeth downe their ſayings in a booke, groueling on the ground, as if he whiſperd to the Deuill to tell him the truth, and ſo expoundeth the letter, as it were by inſpiration.1622, John Rawlins, The Famovs and Wonderfvll Recoverie of a Ship of Bristoll, Called the Exchange, from the Turkish Pirates of Argier. […], London: […] [Eliot’s Court Press] for Nathaniel Butter...

   Synonyms:

   addle-brain, addlehead, addle pate, airhead, baboon, beanbrain, beetlebrain, beetlehead, berk, bimbo

See all 7 meanings of changeling