Definition

A young animal, like a lamb or calf, that is raised to gain weight for the purpose of being killed for meat.

Example

The farmer raised several fatlings in the pasture for the upcoming market.

Conversation

Have you ever seen a fatling on a farm?

Yeah, they always look so plump and cute!

I wonder what they feed them to make them grow so fast.

Probably a lot of grains and special supplements.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Fatling → The word originates from Middle English 'fatling', which is a diminutive form of 'fat' (meaning having a lot of fat or flesh). The suffix '-ling' indicates a small or young version of something. Thus, 'fatling' refers to a young animal that is fat or well-fed, often used in the context of livestock.

Memory Tip

Think of a 'young' ('-ling') animal that is 'well-fed' ('fat') — that's why a fatling is a young, fat animal.

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