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Changeling (2 syl.)

.

A peevish, sickly child. The notion used to be that the fairies took a healthy child, and left in its place one of their starveling elves which never did kindly

“Oh, that it could be proved


That some night-tripping fairy had exchanged

In cradle-clothes our children as they lay,

And called mine Percy, his Plantagenet!

Then would I have his Harry, and he mine.”


Shakespeare: 1 Henry IV., i. 1.

 

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Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.

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Champion and Severall
Champion of England
Chance
Chancel
Chancellor
Chancellor of England (The)
Chancellor of the Exchequer (The)
Chancery
Chaneph
Change
Changeling
Chant du Depart
Chantage
Chanticleer
Chaonian Bird (The)
Chaonian Food
Chaos (kaos)
Chap
Chap-book (A)
Chapeau or Chapel de Roses
Chapeau-bras