foundling

From Middle English foundlyng, fondeyng, variants of Middle English fyndling, fyndlyng, equivalent to found +‎ -ling.

foundling (plural foundlings)

1. An abandoned child, left by its parent(s), often a baby left at a convent or similar safe place.
   • 1749, Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling:
   • 1776, Adam Smith, An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations:

     In foundling hospitals, and among the children brought up by parish charities, the mortality is still greater than among those of the common people.

   • 1794, Thomas Paine, The Age of Reason (Part I):

     Moses was a foundling; Jesus Christ was born in a stable; and Mahomet was a mule driver.

   • 1960 June 13, Walt Kelly, “The Confoundling”, in Pogo, comic strip, published 1974, →ISBN, page 342:

     [Owl:] YOU HEARD THAT FREMOUNT IS REALLY A ANT LION, MR. CONGERSMAN?
     [Frog:] IT'S A SAD BLOW TO THE PARTY JUST AT A TIME WHEN US OWLS MUST STICK TOGETHER. WORST PART IS, MRS. WEEVIL SAYS HER SISTER-AN'-LAW FOUND THE CANDIDATE IN A BOX OF POPCORN.
     [Owl:] AIN'T IT WORSE TO BE A CANNIBAL THAN A FOUNDLING?
     [Frog:] WE CAN SAY HE'S CHANGED HIS HABITS! BUT A FAMILY TREE LOOKS BAD SPROUTIN' OUT OF POPCORN⋯

• foundling wheel

• changeling
• oblate

• unfolding