1.that which is borne or born, a child (cf. Scottish bairn, from Anglo-S. beran, to bear), Hom., etc.; my son, my child, sometimes with masc. adj., φίλε τέκνον id=Hom.; the relat. Pron. or Participle often follows in masc. or fem.
2.of animals, the young, id=Hom., etc.
The penult. is long in Hom., in Trag. more often short.