A saying used to describe a privileged or wealthy child. It originated in the 1400s. Spoons had become the standard eating utensils by this time and silver spoons bearing the image of a newborn's patron saint were favored gifts in Italy. As only wealthy families could afford this, "born with a silver spoon in its mouth" came to mean what it does today.

Incidentally, the silver was often uncoated, allowing it to tarnish inside the infant's oral cavity. Much of the black oxidized product then transferred to the interior of aforementioned oral cavity, resulting in black teeth, gums and tongue, along with really nasty halitosis.