friendling

English

Etymology

From friend +‎ -ling.

Noun

friendling (plural friendlings)

1. (often humorous or derogatory) A little friend; an inferior, petty, or minor cohort
   • 1971, William Makepeace Thackeray, The Cornhill Magazine - Volume 179 - Page 7:

     Had you died before my father in a state of indigence I am sure he would have willingly paid your funeral expenses. Why make things so difficult for your friends or friendlings?

   • 2008, Lauren Beukes, Moxyland - Page 86:

     Trophy in paw, I invest another hour twenty backtracking to find my original spawn-in spot, and reduce Fluffoki and her little friendlings to so much dead flesh, although sorry to say, it being a kids' game, they die in splatters of sparks rather than [...]

Anagrams

• flindering