BABY FARMER Meaning and
Definition
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The term "baby farmer" refers to an individual, usually a woman, who was historically involved in the illegal practice of taking in unwanted or abandoned infants in exchange for money, with the intention of caring for them. It originated during the late 18th to early 19th century when baby farming became prevalent in urban areas.
A baby farmer would typically advertise their services to desperate mothers who could not or did not want to care for their newborns. They would house multiple infants in crowded and often unsanitary conditions while claiming to provide proper care and nurture. However, their true motive was primarily financial gain, and they often neglected or even deliberately caused harm to the infants under their care.
This exploitative practice frequently resulted in high mortality rates among the babies, as the farmers lacked the necessary expertise and resources to adequately care for them. Additionally, some "baby farmers" would resort to infanticide or sell the infants to unscrupulous parties for profit.
Public outrage and various legislative acts eventually brought an end to this cruel practice, with stricter regulations and penalties being implemented to protect vulnerable children. Nowadays, the term "baby farmer" is primarily used in historical contexts to emphasize the inhumane treatment of infants during this dark period.
Common Misspellings for BABY FARMER
- vaby farmer
- naby farmer
- haby farmer
- gaby farmer
- bzby farmer
- bsby farmer
- bwby farmer
- bqby farmer
- bavy farmer
- bany farmer
- bahy farmer
- bagy farmer
- babt farmer
- babg farmer
- babh farmer
- babu farmer
- bab7 farmer
- bab6 farmer
- baby farmed
Etymology of BABY FARMER
The term "baby farmer" originated in the 19th century in England and its etymology is fairly straightforward. It is a compound noun combining the words "baby" and "farmer".
The term "baby" refers to an infant or young child, while "farmer" denotes someone who cultivates land or raises crops and livestock for a living. In this case, the word "farmer" is used metaphorically, as "baby farmer" does not refer to someone engaged in agriculture but rather to individuals who were paid to care for unwanted infants or children.
During the 19th century, the term "baby farmer" was commonly used to describe women who would take in infants and children for a fee, promising to provide them with care and placement in a new home. However, many of these individuals were neglectful and often let the children die from neglect, starvation, or even intentional harm.
Similar spelling word for BABY FARMER
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