Changeling

[Change, and ling, offspring, progeny.] A child left or taken in the place of another. It was at one time a common superstition that young children were liable, to be stolen or changed by fairies before being baptized; and hence they were carefully watched till that ceremony was over. It was thought that the fairies were always anxious to change their own starveling elves for the more robust children of men. The children so left were called changelings, and were known by their greater backwardne in growth or learning: hence, stunted or idiotic children were regarded as changelings. -One who is apt to change; an inconstant person; a waverer. "And as they changelings liv'd, they died."-Hudibras. -4. Changed; taken or left in place of another; as, "А changeling boy." -Shaks.