Young

a. (sb.). Forms: α. 1 ʓeong, ʓiong, ʓung, iung, 2 jung, 2–5 (6 Sc.) ȝung, 3 ȝeung, 3–5 ȝeong(e, ȝonge, ȝunge, yung, (6 Sc.) ȝong, 3–7 yong, (4 ȝonke, ȝhoung, yhung), 4–5 yunge, 4–6 yonge, ȝoung(e, (5 yhonge, ȝoyng, yownge, yongue), 6–7 yoong, younge, 6– young. β. 1 ʓing, 3 ȝuing, 3–5 ȝinge, 4–5 ȝyng(e, 4–6 ȝing, ying, (4 yyng, 5 yinge, vynge, ynge, yhyng). γ. 3 ȝenge, 3–5 ȝeng, (4 ȝeing), 4–5 yeng. See also YOUNGER, YOUNGEST. [OE. ʓeong, ʓung, iung, (Northumbrian) ʓing, = OFris., OS. jung, MDu. jonc (Du. jong), MLG. junk (LG. jung), OHG., MHG. junc (G. jung), ON. ungr (Sw., Da. ung), Goth. juggs :— OTeut. *jūņgaz, contraction of *juwuņgaz :- Indo-Eur. *juwṇkós (whence Skr. juvaçás youthful, youngling, L. juvencus young bull, W. ieuanc, OIr. ōac, ōc young), f. *juwen- (jūn-, jun-), which is represented also by Skr. yúvan-, yūn-, L. juvenis, comp. jūnior, Lith. jáunas, OSl. junŭ young, L. juventūs, juventa, OIr. óitin, YOUTH.] A. adj.

  1.  That has lived a relatively short time; that is in the early stage of life or growth; youthful: opp. to OLD a. 1. a. of persons.

  Not so young as (one) was (or used to be): getting old, advanced in years (colloq., often jocular).

  α.  Beowulf, 13. Ðæm eafera wæs æfter cenned ʓeong in ʓeardum.

a. 1000.  Andreas, 392. Nu synt ʓeþreade þeʓnas mine, ʓeonge guðrincas.

a. 1100.  Aldhelm Gloss., I. 2591 (Napier 70/2). Lactantes, .i. infantes, iung cildra.

c. 1200.  Ormin, 1212. Ȝiff þu … hafesst ȝet, tohh þu be ȝung, Elldernemanness late.

a. 1225.  Leg. Kath., 66. A meiden swiðe ȝung of ȝeres.

c. 1290.  S. Eng. Leg., 7/209. On ouewarde he i-saiȝ a luyte ȝong child.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 12460. Quen iesus com in-to þat scole, Þof he was yong was he na fole.

1362.  Langl., P. Pl., A. X. 181. Hit is an vn-Comely Couple be Cryst, as me þinkeþ, To ȝeuen a ȝong wenche to an old feble Mon.

1375.  Barbour, Bruce, XII. 322. His air … his land sall weild, All be he neuir so ȝhoung of eild.

c. 1450.  Capgrave, Life St. Aug., iii. Wher ȝong damesellis be with chateryng tongis.

c. 1460.  Emare, 707. Up he toke that fayre ladye, And the yonge chylde her by.

1551.  Robinson, trans. More’s Utopia, II. (1895), 162. The nourceis sitte seuerall alone with their yonge suckelinges.

1617.  Moryson, Itin., III. 185. Philip … died young before his father.

1682.  Dryden, Mac Fl., 3. Who, like Augustus, young Was call’d to Empire and had govern’d long.

1751.  Smollett, Per. Pickle, xvi. He … instructed the young boys in the games of hustle-cap, leap-frog, and chuck-farthing.

1821.  Scott, Kenilw., xli. Young in years but old in grief.

1852.  Miss Mulock, Agatha’s Husb., vii. Judging such things by what they were when I was young. Ibid., He is not so young as he used to be.

1859.  H. Kingsley, G. Hamlyn, xxxvii. George Hawker, it’s many years since we met, and I’m not so young as I was.

1888.  ‘J. S. Winter,’ Bootle’s Childr., vi. Somehow the laugh had made her look young and pretty again.

  β.  a. 900.  Cynewulf, Elene, 353. Ic up ahof eaforan ʓinge. Ibid., 464. Onʓit, guma ʓinga, godes heahmæʓen, nerʓendes naman.

c. 1250.  [see YOUNG WOMAN 1].

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 3224. A sargiant … Þat had ben als of his fostring, Ai siþen he was a barn ying.

13[?].  Cour de L., 924. Forleyn was his doughter yyng.

1447.  Bokenham, Seyntys (Roxb.), 195. That ageynys oo maydyn tendyr & ying Fyfty greth clerkys þou doost furth bryng.

c. 1450.  Merlin, 198. As soone as thei hem saugh, thei ne douted nothinge so small a peple that were so ynge.

1522.  World & Child, A ij b. I wyll the fynde whyle thou art yinge, So thou wylte be obedyent to my byddynge.

1570.  Satir. Poems Reform., xvii. 183. In him I hope releif, Of ȝeiris thocht he be ȝing.

a. 1600.  Montgomerie, Misc. Poems, xxxiv. 2. Sueit thing, bening and ȝing.

  γ.  c. 1205.  Lay., 3123. He wes a ȝenge king.

13[?].  Cursor M., 24030 (Gött.). Þat wreche womman ȝeng [rhyme steng].

c. 1400.  [see YOUNG MAN 1].

c. 1430.  Syr Gener. (Roxb.), 3305. Among the lordes old and yeng For gladnes of thes new tithing.

c. 1450.  Cursor M., 10618 (Laud). There was no maide of none ospryng So holy of lyf old nor yeng.

c. 1450.  St. Cuthbert (Surtees), 591. He had sex childre ȝeng A lang tyme in his kepyng.

  b.  In collocations of specific meaning, as young creature, young folk(s, young fry, young people, young person, young thing: see the sbs. CREATURE 3, FOLK 3, 4, FRY sb.¹ 4 b, PEOPLE 6 b, PERSON 2 e, THING¹ 10, and quots. below. Young one: † a young person; (usually with poss.) offspring, pl. young ones, offspring, progeny; = B. 2; also in colloq. form young ’un = YOUNGSTER. See also YOUNG LADY, YOUNG MAN, YOUNG WOMAN, and C. below.

  Certain collocations, e.g., young man, gentleman, woman, lady, are colloq. used vocatively in addressing reproof or warning to persons of almost any age. See YOUNG MAN 1, quot. 1865, YOUNG WOMAN 1, quot. 1864.

1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), 6446. Awey seli ȝonge þinges.

13[?].  Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 1526. Ȝe … Oghe to a ȝonke þynk ȝern to schewe, & teche sum tokenez of trweluf craftes.

1382.  Wyclif, Mark xvi. 5. Thei goynge yn into the sepulcre syȝen a ȝong oon, hilid with a whit stoole.

c. 1412.  Hoccleve, De Reg. Princ., 147. Ful seelde is, þat ȝong folk wyse been.

c. 1450.  Brut, II. 349. A yong creature of ix yere of age, Dame Isabell.

1474.  Caxton, Chesse, II. iv. (1883), 55. That the yonge peple shold not haue but on gowne or garment in the yere.

1533.  Gau, Richt Vay, 3. Mony guyd men and vemen and specialie ȝung persons.

1535.  Coverdale, Isa. xi. 7. The cowe and the Bere shal fede together, and their yongones shal lye together.

1542.  [see THING sb.¹ 10].

1601.  Shaks., All’s Well, V. iii. 303. Dead though she be, she feeles her yong one kicke. Ibid. (1605), Macb., IV. ii. 11. The poore Wren … will fight, Her yong ones in her Nest, against the Owle.

1653.  W. Harvey, Anat. Exerc., xi. 53. The superficies of this Island (in the moneths of May and June) is almost covered quite over with Nests, Egges, and Young-Ones.

1693.  Humours Town, 118. If you want a Foil, as indeed ’tis generally the Care of you young Ones, now-a-days, to get one that’s Ugly or Old.

1709.  Mrs. Manley, Secret Mem. (1720), IV. 190. My Eyes, like most young Peoples, were perpetually at the Windows.

1753.  Smollett, Count Fathom, viii. Certain dangerous books, calculated to debauch the minds of young people.

1814.  Scott, Wav., lxxi. The Baron, while he assumed the lower end of the table, insisted that Lady Emily should do the honours of the head, that they might, he said, set a meet example to the young folk.

1833.  [see FOLK 3 b].

1838.  Egan, Pilgr. Thames, x. 200. ‘Where’s the kids?’ ‘Kids! reiterated Mrs. Brindle, interrogatively. ‘Yes, the young ’uns!’ said Mrs. Bodger. ‘Oh, the children!’

1852.  Mrs. Stowe, Uncle Tom’s C., xviii. Dinah would … tell all marauding ‘young uns’ … to keep out of the kitchen.

1852.  Miss Mulock, Agatha’s Husb., x. The young couple were excellent listeners.

1855.  Leifchild, Cornwall, 281. ‘Young persons’ have been defined to be males and females of from thirteen to eighteen years of age.

1860.  Geo. Eliot, Mill on Fl., III. iii. Well, young sir, we’ve been talking as we should want your pen and ink.

1876.  Miss Braddon, J. Haggard’s Dau., i. You beware o’ that young ’un. He’s bound to be your foe.

1886.  Besant, Childr. Gibeon, I. ix. She could be properly described as a Young Girl, which is the general name for the workwoman in youth, but no one would think of calling her a young lady.

1918.  Act 8 & 9 Geo. V, c. 39. § 48. The expression ‘young person’ means a person under eighteen years of age who is no longer a child.

  (b)  Such collocations may be used attrib. or as adj., may be converted into verbs, or may take a suffix; e.g., young-girl adj. (pertaining to a young girl), young-master vb. (to address or treat as a young master); young-gentlemanly adj. (pertaining to or characteristic of a young gentleman).

1613.  Sidney’s Arcadia, II. xxix. (ed. 4), 210. Looking to haue bin yong-mastred among those grest estates, as he was among his abusing vnderlings.

1854.  Thackeray, Leech’s Pict., Wks. 1900, XIII. 488. What fine young-gentlemanly wags they are.

1868.  Sill, Hermitage, i. A well-bred, fair, young-gentlemanly life.

1880.  ‘Mark Twain,’ Tramp Abr., ix. She was absorbed in … her own young-girl dreams.

  c.  Used to distinguish the younger of two persons of the same name or title in a family (esp. a son from his father); equivalent to junior.

1340.  Ayenb., 48. Þe holy mayde sare þet zeþþe wes yonge thobyes wyf.

1375.  Barbour, Bruce, III. 216. Scipio the ying.

a. 1461[?].  Stonor Papers (Camden), I. 55. Yn Abraham tyme, and in Balky tyme the yongge.

1533.  Bellenden, Livy, I. xviii. (S.T.S.), I. 101. Ȝoung [v.r. ȝing] terquyne and þis feirs tullia war maryit togiddir.

1563–1693.  [see MASTER sb.¹ 22].

1572.  in Buccleuch MSS. (Hist. MSS. Comm. 1899), I. 23. For maring of zoung Quein Marie with Prince Edward.

1647.  Clarendon, Hist. Reb., III. § 147. The chief leaders, Nathaniel Fynes and young Sir H. Vane.

1753.  Smollett, Count Fathom, xliii. Young Melvil … implicitly believed the story and protestations of Fathom.

1817.  Maria Edgeworth, Ormond, i. Young Ormond was the son of the friend of Sir Ulick O’Shane’s youthful and warm-hearted days.

1885.  ‘Mrs. Alexander,’ At Bay, xi. Lady Frances keeps her dower, and young Deering the estates for his life.

  d.  of animals (or their flesh as food).

  Young fry: see FRY sb.¹ 4.

c. 950.  Lindisf. Gosp., Luke xv. 23. Uitulum saginatum, ʓing oxo fætt.

c. 1200.  Trin. Coll. Hom., 201. Ðe neddre bileued hire hude baften hire, and cumeð newe fel and hie wurð jung.

1390.  in W. Hudson, Leet Jurisd. Norwich (1892), 73. Capere yongfry in Regia Ripa et vendere hominibus de Crowmeer … pro bayte.

c. 1430.  Two Cookery-bks., 54. Take kydes Fleyssche & ȝong porke.

c. 1440.  York Myst., ix. 139. Of beestis and foules, ȝynge,… a peyre.

1573–80.  Tusser, Husb. (1878), 82. Thy colts for thy saddle geld yoong to be light.

1599.  Porter, Angry Wom. Abingt. (Percy Soc.), 43. As soone goes the yong sheep to the pot as the olde.

1653.  W. Harvey, Anat. Exerc., v. 20. Pullets or young Hens.

c. 1730.  Ramsay, Eagle & Robin, 23. A tunefull Robin trig and ȝung.

1803–6.  Wordsw., Ode Intim. Immort., iii. While the young lambs bound As to the tabor’s sound.

1828.  G. F. Lyon, Jrnl. Mexico, I. 109. A steak which I cooked tasted so like well-fed young pork.

  e.  of plants, or their parts or products.

a. 800.  Blickl. Glosses, in O. E. Texts, 122. Þa ʓingan eletriow.

a. 1100.  Aldhelm Gloss., I. 3750 (Napier 99/2). Iungum wyrtuna ofætum.

a. 1250.  Owl & Night., 1134. Þar tron shulle a ȝere blowe An ȝunge sedes springe & growe.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 1418. Þar ras o þam thre wandes yong.

c. 1420.  Liber Cocorum (1862), 11. Do þer to sage and persely ȝoyng.

1508.  Dunbar, Gold. Targe, 22. The rosis yong … War powderit brycht with hevinly beriall droppis.

1600.  Shaks., A. Y. L., III. ii. 378. There is a man haunts the Forrest, that abuses our yong plants with caruing Rosalinde on their barkes.

1678.  Moxon, Mech. Exerc., vi. 108. If it [sc. cross-grain] grew up young with the Trunk, then instead of a Knot you will find a Curling in the Stuff when it is wrought.

1716.  ‘H. S. Philokepos,’ Yng. Gard. Director, 108. Young Onions.

1824.  Miss Mitford, Village, Ser. I. 15. The sunny colouring of the young leaves.

1828.  G. F. Lyon, Jrnl. Mexico, II. 249. The cattle … make sad incursions amongst the young crops.

1842.  Loudon, Suburban Hort., 29. The heart wood is … of a darker colour than the soft or young wood.

  2.  transf. Belonging or pertaining to a young person or persons, or to youth. a. with age, days, years, etc.: the age or time when one is young: youth. Obs. exc. in young days.

c. 1000.  Rule St. Benet (1888), 99. Ʒif he þæt sylfe cild on iunre ylde is.

a. 1100.  Aldhelm Gloss., I. 2275 (Napier 61/2). Iunges cildhades. Ibid., 2843 (77/1). Teneritudine, iungan iuʓeþe.

13[?].  Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 492. This hanselle has Arthur of auenturus on fyrst, In ȝonge ȝer.

1389.  in Eng. Gilds (1870), 53. Children in ȝonge age.

1460.  Capgrave, Chron. (Rolls), 131. Whan his ȝong dayes were go, he went to Rome.

a. 1548.  Hall, Chron., Hen. V., 79. At these yong yeres of age.

c. 1570.  Satir. Poems Reform., xiv. 27. Than vp thow rasit to reule my Ring, In to my tender yeiris ȝing.

c. 1610.  Women Saints (1886), 77. Cuthburge … from her yong yeares soughte to please Christ.

1852.  Miss Mulock, Agatha’s Husb., xv. A remnant of my young days.

  b.  of bodily members, faculties, acts, etc.

a. 1250.  Owl & Night., 1434. His ȝunge blod hit draȝeþ amis.

c. 1400.  Brut, I. 251. He was wonder sory, and ful hertly wepte wiþ his ȝonge eyne.

1535.  Stewart, Cron. Scot. (Rolls), II. 308. Ane ȝoung stomack … of groiss meittis … ma tak skayth and harme.

a. 1548.  Hall, Chron. Edw. IV., 204. Hauyng a yonge and a lusty courage,… he set on hys enemyes.

1591.  Shaks., Two Gent., I. i. 47. By Loue, the yong, and tender wit Is turn’d to folly.

1852.  Thackeray, Esmond, I. xi. She … made eyes at him, and directed her young smiles at him.

1876.  Miss Braddon, J. Haggard’s Dau., i. A homily, in which he held up to his son the picture of his young infirmities.

1883.  D. C. Murray, Hearts, ix. (1885), 66. A young eye beneath a grey eyebrow is a prettier thing than a grey head on young shoulders.

  3.  Having the characteristics of young persons, or of youth; youthful in bodily condition or mental disposition (with various connotations); esp. having the freshness or vigor of youth.

1513.  Bradshaw, St. Werburge, I. 1400. To se the a quene wyll make vs yonge agayne.

1600.  Shaks., A. Y. L., I. i. 57. Oti. What Boy. Orl. Come, come elder brother, you are too yong in this.

1678.  Wanley, Wond. Lit. World, I. xxxii. 52. An old Abbatess, being decrepit, suddenly became young, her monthly courses return’d [etc.].

1712.  Lady M. W. Montagu, Lett. to W. Montagu, 9 Dec. ’Tis a maxim with me to be young as long as one can.

1815.  J. C. Hobhouse, Substance Lett. (1816), I. 454. Napoleon’s mother…, a very handsome, regular featured, princely personage, young of her age.

1824.  Miss Mitford, Village, Ser. I. Lucy, The affectation of age and wisdom, which contrast so oddly with his young unmeaning face.

1858.  Trollope, Dr. Thorne, iii. Mr. Gresham was young for his age, and the doctor old.

1894.  Max Pemberton, Sea-Wolves, i. Why, man, she must be a hundred and four, and young at that.

  4.  That has newly or not long since entered upon some course of action, or having the character of such a one; newly or recently initiated; inexperienced, or having little experience; unpractised; ‘raw.’

  Also in Australian use, Newly arrived; that is a newcomer.

a. 1100.  Aldhelm Gloss., I. 1673 (Napier 45/1). Iungum, neutericis, i. nouellis (catholicæ fidei sectatoribus).

a. 1200.  Moral Ode, 4. Þah ich bo a wintre ald, to ȝung ich em on rede.

1340.  Ayenb., 162. Nou yziȝ ane yongne boryeis and one newene kniȝt.

1423.  James I., Kingis Q., vii. Quhich to declare my scole is ouer ȝong.

1496–7.  Act 12 Hen. VII., c. 6. The seid felishippe and Marchauntes of London take of every English man or yonge merchaunte beyng there att his first commyng xx li. sterling.

1561.  Winȝet, Bk. Questions, Wks. (S.T.S.), I. 101. Men in this vocatioun … suld nocht be ȝoung of leirning.

1605.  Shaks., Macb., III. iv. 144. We are yet but yong indeed.

1650.  Hubbert, Pill Formality, 161. Its not with thee as with a yong Christian.

1722.  De Foe, Col. Jack, iv. (1840), 67. I was but young at the work.

1768.  Sterne, Sent. Journey, Montriul. The landlord supposing I was young in French.

1796.  H. Hunter, trans. St. Pierre’s Study Nat. (1799), II. 77. We are still so young in the study of Nature.

1859.  H. Kingsley, G. Hamlyn, xxxi. ‘Matey, what station are you on?’ ‘Maraganoa,’ says he. ‘So,’ says I, ‘you’re rather young there, ain’t you?’

1867.  Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., Young gentlemen, a general designation for midshipmen, whatever their age.

  † b.  transf. Characteristic of a young person, or of a beginner; showing inexperience; juvenile; immature; occas. childish, infantile. Obs.

c. 1200.  Moral Ode, 10 (Trin. Coll. MS.). Fele idel word ich habbe ispeken seðen ich speken cuðe, And fele ȝeunge [v.r. ȝuinge] dade idon þe me ofðinkeð nuðe.

1623.  Cockeram, II. Young, childish.

1663.  Gerbier, Counsel, 9. To excuse his young Experience.

1718.  J. Hughes, in J. Duncombe’s Lett. (1773), I. 205. He has … inserted some trifles of mine which were very young performances.

  5.  Of a thing (concrete or abstract): That is in its early stage; lately begun, formed, introduced, or brought into use; not for advanced; recent, new.

  In quot. 1402 applied to something resulting or ‘springing’ from something else, as compared to offspring (cf. 1 d).

1402.  Pol. Poems (Rolls), II. 103. And alle siche ȝonge impossibilitees folowen therof.

1538.  Elyot, Mustus … newe, yonge, late made.

1553.  Respublica, III. iii. 731. It ys but yong daies yet.

1569.  Underdowne, Heliodorus, VII. 93 b. A little yonge yellowe bearde.

1577.  Harrison, England, II. ii. (1877), I. 50. Oxford hath Oxfordshire onelie, a verie yoong iurisdiction, erected by king Henrie the eight.

1592.  Shaks., Rom. & Jul., I. i. 166. Rom. Is the day so young? Ben. But new strooke nine.

1631.  Markham, Country Contentm. (ed. 4), I. xiii. 89. Take the Kidney-Tallow of a Sheep, and as much young Cheese.

1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., I. 64. While yet the Spring is young. Ibid., III. 752. Such are the Symptoms of the young Disease.

1743.  Lond. & Country Brewer, II. (ed. 2), 113. To tun or put up their Drink young, as the Brewers call it, that is before it hath fermented too much.

1859.  H. Kingsley, G. Hamlyn, xxxviii. It’s a young country, but there’s been muckle wickedness done in it.

1869.  Blackmore, Lorna D., xvi. The water … spread with that young blue which never lives beyond the April.

1880.  O. Crawfurd, Portugal, 253. New port wine—the trade speak of it as young wine.

1884.  Besant, Dorothy Forster, xi. They … left the table when the night was yet young, and the bottle just beginning.

1886.  Cumming, Electr. treated Experim. (1887), 63. It is … necessary, while the ship is young, to make a new correction for magnetism after each voyage.

1893.  Stevenson, Catriona, iii. A … gabled house set by the walk-side among some brave young woods.

1913.  Times, 13 Sept., 15/6. This writing down had cost the corporation over £3,000, which was a severe tax on a young concern not earning profits.

  b.  Applied to the moon in the early part of the lunar month, soon after ‘new moon,’ when it appears as a crescent.

  In quot. c. 1386 applied to the sun at the season just after the vernal equinox.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Prol., 8. The yonge sonne Hath in the Ram his halfe cours yronne.

1813.  [see May moon, MAY sb.³ 5].

1821.  Shelley, Hellas, 168. When the young moon is westering as now.

1849.  H. W. Herbert, Frank Forester, III. 95. The dark azure vault, up which the thread-like crescent of the young moon was climbing.

  c.  spec. in nautical uses (see quots.).

1596.  Sir W. Slingsby, Voy. Cadiz (Navy Rec. Soc. XX.), 71. At six hours’ end,… upon the opportunity of the young flood, the San Felipe, the San Matias, the San Andrés, and the San Tomaso … were abandoned by the Spaniards.

1774.  C. J. Phipps, Voy. N. Pole, 60. The pools of water in the middle of the pieces were frozen over with young ice.

1833.  M. Scott, Tom Cringle, i. We … ran up the river with the young flood for about an hour.

1853.  Kane, Grinnell Exp., xv. (1856), 109. The ‘young,’ or as it is called by the whalers, the ‘bay ice.’

1867.  Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., s.v. Flood, When the water begins to rise, it is called a young flood. Ibid. Young wind, the commencement of the land or sea breeze.

  † d.  Young with child: newly pregnant, in the early stage of pregnancy: also loosely used for ‘pregnant’ (app. by confusion of with child and with young). Obs.

1613–18.  Daniel, Coll. Hist. Eng. (1626), 187. Charles [King of France] dying leaues his Wife young with childe.

1652.  French, Yorksh. Spaw, viii. 78. When they have been very young with child.

1758.  Mrs. Lennox, Henrietta, I. x. My mother, being young with child when my father died, miscarried.

a. 1800.  T. Bellamy, Beggar Boy (1801), III. 51. When my father was commanded on board, he left my mother young with child of me.

  6.  fig. Small, diminutive, miniature, not full-sized. Now colloq. and jocular.

1550.  J. Coke, Eng. & Fr. Heralds, § 8 (1877), 60. We have in England great corne countres, groves, yongsprynges, great ryvers and swete brockes.

1577.  Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., IV. (1586), 173. It is best to bring from the Sea, little Rockes with the weedes and all vppon them, and to place them in the middest of your Ponds, and to make a young Sea of them.

1851.  P. Howard, in Amer. Mag., Nov., 92. Neow, Betsey ’Melia, where’s your blue geown and the Sunday fan; I’ll turn all the drawers inside out, wus than a young earthquake.

1854.  Grace Greenwood, Haps & Mishaps, 10. I left Liverpool on an afternoon of unusual brightness, but plunged immediately into a young night, in the shape of the longest tunnel I ever passed through.

1885.  Hornaday, Two Yrs. in Jungle, xvii. 192. Such a weapon is really a young cannon.

  † b.  Technically applied to a lens of low magnifying power. Obs.

1667.  Pepys, Diary, 4 Nov. To Turlington, the great spectacle-maker,… who dissuades me from using old spectacles, but rather young ones.

1718.  J. Chamberlayne, Relig. Philos. (1730), I. xii. § 22. To speak in the Language of the Glass-Grinders, of younger or older Spectacles.

  B.  absol. or as sb.

  1.  absol. in pl. sense (with def. art., or without art. in conjunction with old): Young people.

c. 825.  Vesp. Psalter, lxxvii[i]. 63. Juvenes eorum comedit ignis, ʓunge heara et fyr.

c. 1000.  Rule of Chrodegang, ii. Æfre þa ʓeongan wurðian þa ealdan, & þa ealdan lufien þa ʓingran.

c. 1205.  Lay., 28444. Þa ȝeonge and þa alde alle he aqualde.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 20495. Ȝong and ald and euerilkan All þar fell to slepe onan.

1390.  Gower, Conf., I. 112. And how that love among the yonge Began the hertes thanne awake.

c. 1460.  Towneley Myst. ix. 217. Therfor thou byd both old and ying, That ich man know me for his kyng.

1567.  Gude & Godlie B. (S.T.S.), 29. Cum ȝung and auld, baith man and wyfe, I will ȝow giue Eternall lyfe.

1598.  Shaks., Merry W., II. i. 118. He wooes both high and low, both rich and poor, both yong and old.

1611.  Bible, 2 Macc. v. 13. Thus there was killing of yong and old.

1632.  [see OLD a. 1].

1710.  Steele, Tatler, No. 207, ¶ 1. Old Age, which is a Decay from that Vigour which the Young possess.

1770.  [see OLD a. 1].

1817.  Maria Edgeworth, Ormond, i. She saw herself surrounded by the young, the fair, and the gay.

1841–4.  [see OLD a. 1].

1885.  ‘Mrs. Alexander,’ Valerie’s Fate, v. I have always lived with people older than myself,… so I do not feel it, though it is very nice to be with the young.

  † b.  absol. or as sb. sing. A young person, esp. a young woman or girl. Obs.

c. 897.  K. Ælfred, Gregory’s Past. C., xlix. 385. Ðu ʓionga, bio ðe uniðe to clipianne & to læranne.

c. 1000.  Ags. Gosp., Matt. xix. 20. Þa cwæð se ʓeonga, eall þiss ic ʓeheold.

a. 1300.  K. Horn, 137 (Cambr. MS.). ‘Feren,’ quaþ he, ‘ȝonge [v.r. ȝynge], Ihc telle ȝou tiþinge.’

13[?].  Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 951. Vn-lyke on to loke þo ladyes were, For if þe ȝonge was ȝep, ȝolȝe was þat oþer.

1402[?].  Quixley, Ball., 128, in Yorksh. Archæol. Jrnl. (1909), XX. 43. King Vlixes … Brak hir his trowth, & toke another yhyng, Circes, to loue.

c. 1430.  [see YEPLY 2].

14[?].  Pol. Rel. & L. Poems (1903), 77. This goodly yong and fresche of face.

  c.  as sb. in pl. Young or newly initiated persons, new-comers, novices. nonce-use.

1890.  Pall Mall Gaz., 30 Aug., 2/2. Although the ‘Olds’ have been the pioneers and confessors of the movement, the ‘Youngs’ show an impatience with them at every meeting.

  2.  † a. A young one; esp. with a and pl. (chiefly in imitation of foreign idiom). Obs. rare.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 10977. Til þat he be born, þat yung, Þan sal he do þe haue þe tung.

c. 1520.  Andrew, Noble Lyfe, xxxviii., in Babees Bk. (1868), 234. Halata is a beste that dothe on-naturall dedys, for whan she feleth her yonges quycke, or stere in her body, than she draweth them out & loketh vpon them. Ibid. (1527), Brunswyke’s Distyll. Waters, F ij b. A Scorpyon, whyche kylleth the yonges of the lyon with his venymous stynges.

1759.  B. Stillingfleet, trans. Riberg’s Econ. Nat., in Misc. Tracts (1762), 90. The elephant scarcely produces one young in two years.

1797.  Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3), XIV. 612/1. It [sc. the great seal] breeds about the month of March, and brings forth a single young on the ice.

  b.  Young animals collectively in relation to the parent; young ones, offspring.

1484.  Caxton, Fables of Æsop, I. xiii. The tree where vpon the egle and his yonge were in theyr nest.

1535.  Coverdale, Ps. lxxxiii[i]. 3. The sparow hath founde hir an house, & the swalowe a nest, where she maye laye hir yonge. Ibid., Jer. xvii. 11. The disceatfull maketh a nest, but bringeth forth no yonge.

1593.  Shaks., Lucr., 863. So then he hath it when he cannot vse it, And leaues it to be maistred by his yong.

1596.  Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot. (S.T.S.), I. 123. Gif a Sou eit his ȝoung, stane him.

1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., III. 382. ’Tis with this rage, the Mother Lion stung, Scours o’re the Plain; regardless of her young.

1820.  Shelley, Witch Atl., vii. The brinded lioness led forth her young.

1849.  Sk. Nat. Hist., Mammalia, IV. 63. The field mouse breeds twice in the year, producing from six to ten young at a time.

  c.  Phr. With young (also in young), of a female animal: Pregnant.

1535.  Coverdale, Ps. lxxvii[i]. 71. The yowes greate with yonge.

1593.  Shaks., 3 Hen. VI., II. v. 35. So many Dayes, my Ewes haue bene with yong.

1607.  Topsell, Four-f. Beasts, 241. Goats grow fat when they are with young.

1774.  Goldsm., Nat. Hist., III. vii. 203. The cat goes with young fifty-six days.

1846.  J. Baxter, Libr. Pract. Agric. (ed. 4), II. 309. The breeding sow, when in young, and near farrowing, should be kept in good condition.

  † 3.  (? ellipt. for young age: see the adj. 2 a.) The time of life when one is young: youth. rare.

c. 1450.  Cov. Myst. (Shaks. Soc.), v. 50. In thi ȝonge lerne God to plese.

1639.  G. Daniel, Ecclus., End 60. In the strong Estate of Man, and the sweet Time of younge.

  C.  Special collocations and Combinations. (See also A. 1 b.)

  1.  a. With the names of countries or their inhabitants, in the designations of political parties chiefly composed of young men: as Young England, name assumed by a group of Tory politicians in the early part of the reign of Queen Victoria (hence Young-Englander, a member of this group; Young-Englandism, the principles of ‘Young England’); Young Europe, a group of associations of republican agitators of various nations which arose after the July revolution (1830) in France, known severally as Young France, Young Germany, Young Italy, Young Poland; Young Ireland, a group of Irish agitators about 1840–50 (hence Young-Irelander, Young-Irelandism); Young Turk, a member of a party of Turkish agitators which brought about the revolution of 1908 (hence Young Turkish adj.). (Such phrases may also be used in a general sense, as Young England = the typical young Englishman, or the rising generation of Englishmen.)

1838.  R. Monckton Milnes, Lett. to C. J. MacCarthy, 13 March. I go on with small *‘Young Englands’ on Sunday evenings, which unfortunately excludes the more severe members—Acland, Gladstone, &c.

1843.  Times, 17 Aug., 5/2. It is not to defend ‘Young England,’ who are amply ably to defend themselves, that we make these remarks.

1848.  Kingsley, Yeast, vi. Young England or Peelite, this is all right and noble.

1859.  New Sporting Mag. (N.S.), LVIII. 425. Now Master Young England I am afraid I have been rather angry with you.

1886.  Kebbel, Hist. Toryism, v. 273. That distrust of Sir Robert Peel which alone made the Young England Party possible.

1837.  in T. W. Reid, R. M. Milnes (1890), I. 205. We may both rejoice that our two young Englanders [sc. Milnes and Acland] have come out so well.

1848.  Kingsley, Yeast, iii. She would have started as from a snake, from the issue … that Lancelot would fall in love, not with *Young Englandism, but with Argemone Lavington.

1840.  T. Gordon, trans. W. Menzel’s Ger. Lit., IV. 309. The coterie took the name of Young Germany (das junge Deutschland) only, however, as an emanation from *Young Europe.

1835.  Ann. Reg., Hist. Eur., 478/1. Germany had found in her political reformers a new school of literature and morals, as well as of civil rights…. Under the appellation of *‘young Germany’ or ‘young literature,’ aping the French … disregard of all authority,… they preached up their extravagant doctrines in corrupting publications.

1845.  R. Monckton Milnes, Lett. to C. J. MacCarthy, 26 March. *Young Ireland would separate from Rome to-morrow if they dared.

1884.  Dict. Eng. Hist., 610/1. The ‘Young Ireland’ party … made a foolish attempt at rebellion in 1848.

1855.  Moriarty, in W. Ward, Life Newman (1912), I. 361. I do not at all share … in Dr. Cullen’s distrust of those he calls *Young Irelanders.

1851.  Edin. Rev., Jan., 224. Rise and Progress of *Young-Irelandism.

1844.  R. Monckton Milnes, Lett. to C. J. MacCarthy, 1 July. Mazzini,… who has been organising a *‘Young Italian’ descent on Italy from Malta.

1901.  Scotsman, 4 Sept., 7/6. As regards the *Young Turks, the Sultan hopes that Munir Bey will be able to keep them under surveillance.

1909.  Westm. Gaz., 17 Aug., 9/1. Salonika, the head-quarters of the Young Turk Party.

1911.  Encycl. Brit., XXVII. 463/2. The *Young Turkish party had long been preparing for the overthrow of the old régime.

  b.  In other special collocations, as young FUSTIC, young HYSON, Young PRETENDER, for which see the sbs.

  2.  Comb. a. Adverbial and predicative, as young-born (cf. ‘new-born’), -fed, -looking, -old (old in years but young in condition or disposition), -sprung adjs. b. Parasynthetic, etc. as young-bladed, -conscienced, -headed, -hearted, -winged, † -yeared adjs.; † young blood, a ‘young-blooded’ person, a young hothead; † young-head, a headstrong young man. Also YOUNG-EYED, YOUNG-LIKE.

1551.  Robinson, trans. More’s Utopia, Ep. (1895), 5. This *yong bladed and newe shotte vp corne.

1630.  Brathwait, Eng. Gentleman, 12. These *Young-blouds use rather, Catiline-like, to speake much, and doe little.

1874.  Edin. Rev., July, 80. The larger craters are essentially the first-fruits of the *young-born eruptive power.

1651.  Davenant, Gondibert, II. VII. xxx. She…, like Young Conscienc’d Casuists, thinks that sin, Which will by talk and practise lawfull seeme.

1608.  Sylvester, Du Bartas, II. iv. Schisme, 1. Rejecting Old, *Young-Counsail’d rash Roboam Loseth Ten Tribes, which fall to Jeroboam.

1598.  Mucedorus, IV. i. 29. What … *young-fed humour moist within the braine?

1630.  Brathwait, Eng. Gentleman, 12. It is intolerable for these *Young-heads to be opposed: they are deafe to reason.

1588.  Fraunce, in Brit. Bibliogr. (1812), II. 280. Owld dotinge graye beardes talke muche of Baralipton, whiles *young headed boyes beare awaye logike.

1868.  Lynch, Rivulet, CL. vi. *Young-hearted, gay Summer shall fling Thy doubts away.

1824.  Miss Mitford, Village, Ser. I. Mod. Ant. A man of seventy,… but wonderfully *young-looking and well-preserved.

1558.  R. Ramsey, Boy Bp.’s Serm., 14, in Camden Misc. (1875), VII. All yow that are no childer, but men, women, and *yonggolds, of years and discretion.

1650.  Fuller, Pisgah, II. xiii. 274. Caleb was that young-old man, whose strength contradicted his years.

1903.  Westm. Gaz., 21 Feb., 2/1. A tall, ascetic-looking, young-old man.

1614.  R. Tailor, Hog hath lost Pearl, IV. i. All thy *young sprung griefes shall seeme but sparkes To the great fire of my calamities.

1706.  Watts, Horæ Lyr., II. xxxiii. 149. A generous Pair of *young-wing’d Eaglets.

1596.  R. Linche, Diella, F j b. This *young-year’d Hermit. Ibid. (1599), Fount. Anc. Fiction, H ij. A carelesse crue of young-year’d Nimphs.