child

n.; pl. Children [ AS. cild, pl. cildru; cf. Goth. kilþei womb, in-kilþō with child. ] 1. A son or a daughter; a male or female descendant, in the first degree; the immediate progeny of human parents; -- in law, legitimate offspring. Used also of animals and plants. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A descendant, however remote; -- used esp. in the plural; as, the children of Israel; the children of Edom. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. One who, by character of practice, shows signs of relationship to, or of the influence of, another; one closely connected with a place, occupation, character, etc.; as, a child of God; a child of the devil; a child of disobedience; a child of toil; a child of the people. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A noble youth. See Childe. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. A young person of either sex. esp. one between infancy and youth; hence, one who exhibits the characteristics of a very young person, as innocence, obedience, trustfulness, limited understanding, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

When I was child. I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 1. Cor. xii. 11. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. A female infant. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

A boy or a child, I wonder? Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

To be with child, to be pregnant. --
Child's play, light work; a trifling contest. [ 1913 Webster ]