swapling

English

Etymology

From swap +‎ -ling.

Noun

swapling (plural swaplings)

1. An infant or child secretly exchanged for another; changeling.

   Synonyms: auf, changeling, oaf

   • 1993, Huntington County, Indiana: History & Families, 1834-1993 - Page 330:

     A fire was kept burning in front of this and swaplings were kept inside to "poke away" the wild animals, including bears (as Grandma recalled being told).

   • 2011, Christopher Golden, The Monster's Corner:

     The parents of the human girl child would scream when they found the swapling, cry out even louder than they were doing right now, and wail, and call for the queen's guard, and kneel in their churches, […]

Anagrams

• lapwings, spawling, waspling