Meanings
-
1
noun
an animal between one and two years old, or otherwise classed as being in its second year
The yearling buck could run through the underbrush more easily than an older antlered deer.
-
2
noun
a young racehorse officially classed as one year old under the age conventions of horse racing
The breeder offered the promising yearling at the autumn sale.
-
3
adj
one year old or in the second year of life
The reserve released several yearling deer into the larger enclosure.
Thesaurus
Etymology
From Middle English yerling, formed from year + the noun suffix -ling. Cognates in Dutch and German use the same year-based formation for an animal in its second year.