Now dial. [var. of RECKLING. Cf. WREGLING.] A weak, puny or dwarfish animal (or plant); spec. the smallest and weakest of a litter.
1601. Holland, Pliny, I. 530. It causeth it [sc. the vine] to seeme scortched and full of knots, yea and to grow like a dwarfe or wreckling.
1607. Markham, Cavel., I. 48. When shee shoulde come to foale, she would bring foorth nought but a wreckling. Ibid. (1614), Cheap Husb., Swine, xi. 94. Take the wreckling, or worst Pigge, and annoint it all ouer.
1781. [see RECKLING].
1825–. in dialect glossaries, etc. (N. Cy.; Nhb. to Warw.).
attrib. 1602. trans. Pastor Fido, IV. viii. M 2 b. Too much I honour thee, poore weake and wreckling child.
