Oddling

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A being recognized for its strange or unconventional attributes or behaviors that diverge from ordinary expectations
2. A creature or individual distinguished by its unusual characteristics or behaviors that set it apart from the expected norm
3. A person or thing characterized by strange or eccentric traits that deviate from the usual standards

Etymology: "Oddling" is a simple formation: the adjective "odd" with the suffix "-ling" attached. "Odd" came into English from Old Norse "oddi", meaning the point of a triangle or an unpaired number, which gave rise to the sense of something left over or unmatched and eventually to the sense of strange or peculiar. The suffix "-ling" is an old Germanic diminutive, seen in words like "duckling" and "nestling," that usually marks a small or young thing, though it can also suggest a person characterized by something. Attaching it to "odd" produces a noun for someone who is a bit peculiar or out of step with others, with a faintly affectionate, slightly diminishing tone.

Synonyms: freak, anomaly, eccentric

Antonyms: normal, typical