bantling

1. (archaic, UK dialectal) An infant or young child.Examples: "And I even question whether any tender virgin, who was accidentally and unaccountably enriched with a bantling, would save her character at parlour fire-sides and evening tea-parties, by ascribing the phenomenon to a swan, a shower of gold, or a river god."; ""You!--half-grown, venison-hunting bantling!...""; ""As if he'd let a cow-handed bantling like you handle them," Cecily muttered. "Children!" Meredyth protested, her face flushing. "What must Lord Englemere think, to hear you brangle so?""UKarchaicdialectal

2. (archaic) A bastard-child.archaic

3. (archaic, derogatory) A brat.archaicderogatory