Bant"ling (?), n. [Prob. for bandling, from band, and meaning a child wrapped in swaddling bands; or cf. G. bantling a bastard, fr. bank bench. Cf. Bastard, n.]
A young or small child; an infant. [Slightly contemptuous or depreciatory.]
In what out of the way corners genius produces her bantlings.
W. Irving.
© Webster 1913.