premn.adj.
/prɛm/, U.S. /prɛm/ A. n.
A premature baby. Frequently attributive.
ΘΚΠ
the world > people > person > baby or infant > [noun] > premature baby
premature1900
preemie1927
prem1951
preterm1975
the world > life > source or principle of life > birth > confinement > [noun] > childbirth or delivery > complications of childbirth or pregnancy > premature child
seven-months1724
premature1900
preemie1927
prem1951
1951 Nursing Times 16 p. ii New ideas in a modern ‘prem’ unit.
1960 News Chron. 18 Mar. 8/6 Children's specialists are improving the outlook for ‘prems’—frail, under-developed babies, some born too soon.
1972 ‘R. Lewis’ Fool for Client ii. 44 My daughter..was took bad in the night and they think the baby is going to be a prem.
2004 Diamond Valley Leader (Austral.) (Nexis) 4 Aug. [He] first discovered a gift for calming babies in the ‘prem’ ward of the Mercy hospital seven years ago.
B. adj.
Of a baby: premature.
ΘΚΠ
the world > people > person > baby or infant > [adjective] > premature baby
seven-months1724
prem1961
the world > life > source or principle of life > birth > confinement > [adjective] > giving birth > complications of childbirth or pregnancy
abortivea1450
still-born1607
footling1699
premature1754
abortifacient1858
underborn1884
postmature1895
post-term1928
preterm1928
born alive1957
prem1961
1961 News of World 23 Apr. 13 My last was three months prem.
1988 Mother & Baby Apr. 21/2 Having a prem baby is very different from having a full-term one.
2000 Pract. Parenting Apr. 149/1 When Matthew was 7 months, we were invited to a prem baby clinic.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2007; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.adj.1951