Kid

Part of speech: noun, verb

Pronunciation: /kɪd/

Definitions

1. A young person who has not yet reached adulthood
2. A young individual in the early stages of growth who has not yet reached the threshold of adult status
3. A minor in the early phases of human development who has not attained full maturity yet

Etymology: The noun referring to a young person has an origin tied to an animal term. Originally, "kid" meant a young goat, a usage that dates back to Old English as "cild" or Old Norse as "kidd," reflecting a Germanic root. This sense of the word has been around since at least the early medieval period. The youthful goat was a common enough animal in rural and pastoral communities that the term became familiar in everyday speech. Over time, the word expanded metaphorically from the animal world to human children. By the 16th century, "kid" was used colloquially in English to refer to a child or youngster, likely because of perceived similarities between young goats and energetic children. This shift from a literal animal to a human child shows how language often draws on concrete, familiar images to describe abstract or socially significant concepts. As a verb, the usage likely emerged later, meaning "to tease" or "to joke," which reflects the playful, mischievous behavior associated both with young goats and children. This verbal sense captures the lively, spirited connotation carried over from the noun. The verb form has been documented since the 19th century and is still commonly used today. Thus, the word’s journey takes it from the barnyard to the playground, illustrating how terms for animals often become affectionate or informal words for humans, especially children, and then develop further into actions associated with their character. The simplicity of the term belies a layered history spanning centuries of English usage.

Synonyms: child, youth, youngster, minor, juvenile

Antonyms: adult, grown-up, mature, elder