the.com/godchild
a backup plan with a baptism, in case the parents wander off the map.
means A child for whom an adult acts as sponsor at baptism, taking responsibility for their religious upbringing and welfare.
from A straightforward compound of "god" and "child," part of a family of "god-" kinship words (godfather, godmother, godparent) in English. The "god" here marks a spiritual rather than biological tie — the bond forged at the baptismal font instead of by blood. Old English already had godsibb ("godparent," literally a relative in God), which, by a long slide of meaning, eventually became our word "gossip."
- original job
- spiritual insurance if parents died young
- royal perk
- queens once gifted godchildren entire estates
- word root
- from Old English meaning sponsored at baptism
- modern role
- now mostly birthday cards and awkward christenings
- chain effect
- your godparent's godparent built a holy pyramid scheme
prince george of wales — godson of prince william, born 2013, has prince charles as godfather
blue ivy carter — daughter of beyoncé and jay-z, godchild of michelle obama