\Ath"el*ing\ ([a^]th"[e^]l*[i^]ng), n. [AS.
[ae][eth]eling noble, fr. [ae][eth]ele noble, akin to G. adel
nobility, edel noble. The word [ae][eth]el, E. ethel, is in
many AS. proper names, as Ethelwolf, noble wolf; Ethelbald,
noble bold; Ethelbert, noble bright.]
An Anglo-Saxon prince or nobleman; esp., the heir apparent or
a prince of the royal family. [Written also {Adeling} and
{[AE]theling}.]