sooterkin

noun

soot·​er·​kin

ˈsu̇tə(r)kə̇n,

ˈsüt-

plural -s

1

: an afterbirth formerly held to be produced by Dutch women

delivered of a sooterkin not unlike to a rat

—John Cleveland

2

: something that is imperfect or unsuccessful

especially : an imperfect literary composition

fruits of dull heat and sooterkins of wit

—Alexander Pope

3

archaic : dutchman

Word History

Etymology

probably from (assumed) Dutch dialect zoetkijn, diminutive of Dutch dialect zoet soot, from Middle Dutch soet

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