English

Noun

childer

1. (Ireland, obsolete elsewhere) plural of child
2. (Northern England) child
   • 1839, Abel BYWATER, The Sheffield Dialect. [A Series of Papers in that Dialect, with a Glossary.], page 223

     As yo ma be quoit shure where there's agret family a childer, a wumman's loik tubbe varra throng ina monin

   • 1894, Emily Lawless, Maelcho: A Sixteenth Century Narrative

     Aye has he, Dan'l Drax, so do ee larn him what cums to they as lets off rebels. He be safter nor turnips, nor boiled turnips, so he be. Was blubberin' while back over yon rebel an'a childer !

   • 1899, Frederick R. Smith, Doxie Dent: A Clog-shop Chronicle

     Ay, a childer's class, tha' knows — a Katty — Katty — Aw dunna know wot they caw'n it.

   • 2003 September 13, Guy King, “Re: Hi from Kran”, in uk.rec.sheds, Usenet:

     Yebbut...she ain't a childer any more...she's stuck in no-mans-land for the next few years.

Derived terms

• Childermas

References

• Merriam-Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged Accessed 23 Feb. 2006.
• The O'Byrne Files, "Dublin Slang Dictionary" Accessed 23 Feb. 2006.