Half-orphan

[Benjamin Barrett]

I'd never heard of the word, but since I have three parents, can I be a
three-half foundling? BB

> -----Original Message-----
> From: American Dialect Society
> [mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU] On Behalf Of Wilson Gray
>
> On Jun 6, 2005, at 12:16 PM, Benjamin Barrett wrote:
> >
> > This word, suggested by Wayne Leman on the lexicography list is
> > missing from the OED and AHD. It means a child who has lost one
> > parent.
> >
> Being a half-orphan myself, I'm surprised, indeed, shocked to
> see that neither the AHD nor the OED has the word. Sigh! The
> only thing worse than failing to be the first to post a "new"
> word is posting a "new"
> word and discovering that it can be traced to Beowulf.