An old fashioned word for premature baby

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mccardey

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I'm pretty sure my grandmother had some poetic turn of phrase.

Anyone?

I don't mean preemie or "early birth". I have a vague recollection of something more village-y and superstitious. The closest I can come is "seven-month-babe" but that's not it. It was prettier, and encapsulated a really slim chance of survival.
 

Alessandra Kelley

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The only word I know is for cows. A "slunk calf" is one born prematurely, alive or dead. "Slunk" is an incredibly fine and delicate leather or parchment made from their skins.

For human babies I don't know. "Unseasonable" maybe?
 

mccardey

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Those are lovely - one of them might fit. The one in my head is a phrase, though. My grandmother had some lovely Irishy things that crept into her speech once.

Thank you, darlings.
 

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The only word I know is for cows. A "slunk calf" is one born prematurely, alive or dead. "Slunk" is an incredibly fine and delicate leather or parchment made from their skins.

For human babies I don't know. "Unseasonable" maybe?

depending upon the coarseness of the society/speaker, "slunk" might actually be perfect, given the implication the child is only useful for parts....
 
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