foundling wheel

English

Noun

foundling wheel (plural foundling wheels)

1. a revolving crib set in the wall of a church or convent, allowing an abandoned baby to be left anonymously and safely.

Usage notes

• Foundling wheels were common from the 12th to the 18th centuries, but are now being used again in some parts of Europe.

Synonyms

• baby hatch

Translations

revolving crib

• Finnish: vauvaluukku
• French: tour d’abandon (fr) m
• Italian: ruota dei trovatelli
• Portuguese: roda (pt) f