Emily Dickinson Lexicon

childhood (-'s), n. [OE cild (see child) + hád, state, condition.] (webplay: belonging, child, country, first, God, grace, ignorant, years).

Early youth; period from birth to puberty; age of one to twelve years; time when a human is young and small; [fig.] innocence; time of physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual growth.