[a. OF. lionet: see LION and -ET.] A young lion.

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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.

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1633.  P. Fletcher, Purple Isl., IX. xx. 126. So may we see a little lionet, When newly whelpt, a weak and tender thing, Despis’d by every beast.

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1795.  Southey, Joan of Arc, X. 382. Emulous he strove, like the young lionet When first he bathes his murderous jaws in blood.

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1819.  Lamb, Lett., xi. To Miss Wordsworth, 109. The whelps (lionets) he was sorry to find were dead.

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1845.  Hood, Remonstr. Ode, 19. All the nine little Lionets are lying Slumbering in milk, and sighing.

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