[a. OF. lionet: see LION and -ET.] A young lion.
a. 1586. Sidney, Arcadia, III. (1629), 252. A braue Lion, who taught his young Lionets how in taking of a prey to ioyne courage with cunning.
1633. P. Fletcher, Purple Isl., ix. xx. So may we see a little lionet—When newly whelped, a weak and tender thing, Despised by every beast.
1795. Southey, Joan of Arc, X. 382. Emulous he strove, like the young lionet When first he bathes his murderous jaws in blood.
1819. Lamb, Lett., xi. To Miss Wordsworth, 109. The whelps (lionets) he was sorry to find were dead.
1845. Hood, Remonstr. Ode, 19. All the nine little Lionets are lying Slumbering in milk, and sighing.
