subs. (colloquial).—A baby.

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  1622.  FLETCHER, The Spanish Curate, i. 3.

          Hen.  ’Tis the curse
Of great estates to want those PLEDGES which
The poor are happy in.

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  1751.  SMOLLETT, Peregrine Pickle (1895), iii. 122. In a few hours a living PLEDGE of my love and indiscretion saw the light.

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  Verb. (Winchester School).—To give away. ‘PLEDGE ME’ = ‘After you’; ‘I’ll PLEDGE it you when I have done with it: cf. POSTE TE.

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