Definition of "nurse-child" [nurse-child]

• A child that is nursed; a nursling. (noun)

The Century Dictionary (Public Domain)

• "Many of these young women come to Madrid on the chance of finding situations, leaving their own babies behind to be fed by hand, or Heaven knows how; they bring with them a young puppy to act as substitute until the nurse-child is found, and may be seen in the registry offices waiting to be hired, with their little canine foster-children."
• "One supposes he is a nurse-child, received by my parents."
• ""If she doesn't make it up with that good man," Mrs. Ellmother thought, on her way back to the house, "my nurse-child is what I have never believed her to be yet -- she's a fool.""