[f. FIRST a. + -LING.] The first of its kind to be produced, come into being, or appear; the first product or result of anything. Usually in collect. pl., like first-fruits.
In its earliest recorded use, perh. after G. erstling.
1535. Coverdale, Prov. iii. 9. Honoure the Lorde with thy substaunce, & with ye firstlinges of all thine encrease.
1574. trans. Marlorat’s Apocalips, 9. Christ is therefore called the first begotten of the dead … and the firstlings of them that ryse againe … bycause he hath begon the new life by his death, and perfected it by his resurrection.
1605. Shaks., Macb., IV. i. 147.
| The very firstlings of my heart shall be | |
| The firstlings of my hand. |
1684. Bunyan, Pilgr., II. Introd.
| Perhaps with heart and hand they will embrace | |
| Thee, as they did my firstling, and will grace | |
| Thee, and thy fellows, with good cheer and fare, | |
| As show will they of Pilgrims lovers are. |
1830. J. G. Strutt, Sylva Brit., 110. The Plane Tree is of comparatively modern introduction into this country, which is said to be indebted for it to the great Lord Chancellor Bacon, who probably procured the firstlings of the species from Sicily.
1861. Sala, Dutch Pictures, viii. 120. She had sacrificed her youth, the firstlings of her beauty, her love, her hopes, everything.
b. esp. The first offspring of an animal, the first-born of the season.
1593. Drayton, Eclogues, III. 130.
| Beta shall have the firstling of the fold, | |
| Yea though the horns were of the purest gold. |
1697. Dryden, Virg. Pastorals, I. 9.
| The tender Firstlings of my Woolly breed | |
| Shall on his holy Altar often bleed. |
1725. Pope, Odyss., IV. 841.
| The firstlings of the flock are doom’d to die; | |
| Rich fragrant wines the cheering bowl supply. |
1839. Mrs. Hemans, Poems, Forest Sanctuary.
| No fair young firstling of the flock to die, | |
| As when before their God the patriarchs stood? |
1879. Butcher & Lang, Odyssey, 140–1. The baskets were well laden with cheeses, and the folds were thronged with lambs and kids; each kind was penned by itself, the firstlings apart, and the summer lambs apart, apart too the younglings of the flock.
c. attrib.
1611. Bible, Deut. xv. 19. All the firstling males that come of thy heard, and of thy flock, thou shalt sanctifie vnto the LORD thy God: thou shalt doe no worke with the firstling of thy bullocke, nor sheare the firstling of thy sheepe.
1814. Cary, Dante’s Paradise, xxiv. 142.
| From this germ, this firstling spark | |
| The lively flame dilates; and, like heaven’s star, | |
| Doth glitter in me. |
1863. Richard Garnett, A Welcome, in Macm. Mag., VII. March, 349.
| On our soil her foot is set | |
| With the firstling violet, | |
| Mid happy trees displaying | |
| Their boughs in new arraying. |
1870. Bryant, Iliad, I. IV. 109.
| To Lycian Phœbus, mighty with the bow, | |
| That thou wilt bring him a hecatomb | |
| Of firstling lambs. |
