Dragonlings

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Young or smaller versions of mythical serpentine creatures typically depicted in folklore as powerful and fire-breathing beings
2. Small dragons that are often imagined as playful and innocent, embodying the traits of their larger counterparts
3. Little, immature dragons that may exhibit both magical abilities and a penchant for mischief in various stories and legends

Etymology: "Dragonlings" is the plural of "dragonling", a noun for a young or small dragon. The plural simply follows the regular English pattern, so the interesting part lies in the parts of the word itself. "Dragon" came into English from Old French "dragon", which in turn descends from Latin "draco", meaning a large serpent or monster. "-ling" is an old English suffix, used to form words for small or young things, as in "duckling" or "gosling". Attaching it to "dragon" creates a diminutive, so a dragonling is literally a little dragon, a creature whose name tells you it is a juvenile of a much larger beast.