• IPA: /ˈt͡ʃeɪnd͡ʒlɪŋ/

changeling (plural changelings)

1. (mythology) In pre-modern European mythology, an infant that was secretly exchanged for a mother's own baby by an evil creature. (In British, Irish and Scandinavian mythology the exchanged infants were thought to be those of fairies, sprites or trolls; in other places, they were ascribed to witches, devils, or demons.)
2. (informal, rare) An infant secretly exchanged with another infant by mistake or by human doing; swapling.
3. (science fiction and fantasy) An organism which can change shape to mimic others.
4. (obsolete) A simpleton; an idiot.
5. (obsolete) One apt to change; a waverer.
   • 1599, William Shakespeare, “The Life of Henry the Fift”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358 ↗, [Act V, scene i]:

     To face the garment of rebellion / With some fine color that may please the eye / Of fickle changelings and poor discontents, / Which gape and rub the elbow at the news / Of hurly-burly innovation....

• (fairy's child) auf (obsolete), oaf (obsolete)
• (being that can change shape) shape-shifter
• (a child exchanged for another) swapling

• French: changelin, changeling
• German: Wechselbalg, Wechselkind, Kielkropf, Dickkopf
• Russian: подме́ныш
• Spanish: niño cambiado