From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Child \Child\ (ch[imac]ld), n.; pl. {Children}
(ch[i^]l"dr[e^]n). [AS. cild, pl. cildru; cf. Goth.
kil[thorn]ei womb, in-kil[thorn][=o] with child.]
1. A son or a daughter; a male or female descendant, in the
first degree; the immediate progeny of human parents; --
in law, legitimate offspring. Used also of animals and
plants.
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2. A descendant, however remote; -- used esp. in the plural;
as, the children of Israel; the children of Edom.
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3. One who, by character of practice, shows signs of
relationship to, or of the influence of, another; one
closely connected with a place, occupation, character,
etc.; as, a child of God; a child of the devil; a child of
disobedience; a child of toil; a child of the people.
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4. A noble youth. See {Childe}. [Obs.] --Chaucer.
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5. A young person of either sex. esp. one between infancy and
youth; hence, one who exhibits the characteristics of a
very young person, as innocence, obedience, trustfulness,
limited understanding, etc.
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When I was child. I spake as a child, I understood
as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became
a man, I put away childish things. --1. Cor. xii.
11.
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6. A female infant. [Obs.]
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A boy or a child, I wonder? --Shak.
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{To be with child}, to be pregnant.
{Child's play}, light work; a trifling contest.
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