suckling

suckling
/suk"ling/, n.
an infant or a young animal that is not yet weaned.
[1400-50; late ME; see SUCK, -LING1]

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In mammals, the drawing of milk into the mouth from the nipple of a mammary gland.

In human beings, it is referred to as nursing or breast-feeding. The word also denotes an animal that has not yet been weaned
that is, whose access to milk has not yet been withdrawn, a process that gradually accustoms the young to accept an adult diet.

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 in mammals, the drawing of milk into the mouth from the nipple or teat of a mammary gland (i.e., breast or udder). In human beings suckling is also referred to as nursing, or breast-feeding. Suckling is the method by which newborn mammals are nourished; it may last only 10–12 days, as in some rodents, or up to two years, as in the walrus. Milk composition may alter during the growth period, relative to the changing nutritional needs of the developing young. The underwater suckling of whales (whale) is accomplished by means of special muscles surrounding the teat. When the calf touches the nipple these muscles contract, squirting a jet of milk into its mouth.

      The word suckling also denotes an animal that has not yet been weaned. Weaning is the withdrawal of access to milk; this process gradually accustoms the young to accept an adult diet. A mother animal frequently weans her offspring by responding with aggression when the young try to approach her. When the stimulus provided by suckling is withdrawn, lactation (milk production) ceases. See also lactation.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • SUCKLING (J.) — SUCKLING JOHN (1609 1642) Poète, cavalier, dramaturge et courtisan, célèbre surtout pour ses poèmes lyriques, Suckling était gentilhomme de la chambre de Charles Ier d’Angleterre et ami de Thomas Carew, de Richard Lovelace et de sir William… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Suckling —   [ sʌklɪȖ], Sir (seit 1630) John, englischer Dichter und Dramatiker, getauft Whitton (heute zu London) 10. 2. 1609, ✝ Paris 1642; aus wohlhabender Familie, studierte in Cambridge; später im Hofdienst, floh 1641 aus politischen Gründen nach Paris …   Universal-Lexikon

  • Suckling — Suck ling, n. [OE. sokeling. See {Suck}, v. t.] 1. A young child or animal nursed at the breast. [1913 Webster] 2. A small kind of yellow clover ({Trifolium filiforme}) common in Southern Europe. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Suckling — Suckling, John, geb. 1613; war Anhänger Karls I. im Bürgerkriege u. st. 1641; er schr. einige Dramen, Lieder, Sonette u. vermischte Gedichte gesammelt, Lond. 1646 …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • suckling — mid 15c., an infant at the breast, from SUCK (Cf. suck) + dim. suffix ling. Cf. M.Du. sogeling, Du. zuigeling, Ger. Säugling. Meaning act of breast feeding is attested from 1799 …   Etymology dictionary

  • suckling — ► NOUN ▪ an unweaned child or animal …   English terms dictionary

  • Suckling — [suk′liŋ] Sir John 1609 42; Eng. poet …   English World dictionary

  • suckling — [suk′liŋ] n. [ME sokelynge: see SUCK & LING1] an unweaned child or young animal …   English World dictionary

  • Suckling — /suk ling/, n. Sir John, 1609 42, English poet. * * * In mammals, the drawing of milk into the mouth from the nipple of a mammary gland. In human beings, it is referred to as nursing or breast feeding. The word also denotes an animal that has not …   Universalium

  • Suckling — This is a famous name of pre 7th century Old English origins. It derives from the original word sucan meaning to suck, and was in ancient times a baptismal and patronymic name of endearment. Similar such endearment surnames are Darling, Dear and… …   Surnames reference

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