Childhood

Part of speech: noun (n.)

1. The state of being a child; the time in which persons are children; the condition or time from infancy to puberty. I have walked before you from my childhood. 1. Sam. xii. 2.

2. Children, taken collectively. [R.] The well-governed childhood of this realm. Sir. W. Scott.

3. The commencement; the first period. The childhood of our joy. Shak. Second childhood, the state of being feeble and incapable from old age.