tot
n. countablen. a very young child who is just learning to walk. It is a short, cute way to say toddler.
n. a young child, specifically one at the toddler stage of development. Often carries a diminutive or affectionate tone.
The little tot is playing with his blocks.
The nursery school has a separate play area designed specifically for the safety of the tiny tots.
While the older children were busy with their organized sports, a few curious tots wandered toward the edge of the field to watch the butterflies.
Borrowed from Scots tot, a shortened form of totum (“small child; tot”), of uncertain origin, perhaps shortened from totter (“to move in an unsteady way”), Compare tottle, also Old Norse tottr (“name of a dwarf”), Swedish tutte (“small child”), Danish tommeltot (“little child”).
Clipping of total (“to sum”).
Commonly used in British English and informal storytelling; often preceded by the adjective 'tiny'.