What is "prolicide"

Prolicide \Prol"i*cide\, n. [L. proles offspring + caedere to kill.] The crime of destroying one's offspring, either in the womb or after birth.
--Bouvier.

"killing of one's child or children," 1824, introduced by Dr. John Gordon Smith in the 2nd edition of his "Principles of Forensic Medicine;" from Latin proles "offspring" (see prolific) + -cide.\n\nIt is hoped that this word will be considered entitled to reception, on the score of analogy. We have long had parricide, fratricide, and infanticide, all (if I may use the figure of speech,) of the same family; and recently the very appropriate term foeticide has been introduced into Forensic Medicine. In both these last crimes there is a peculiarity arising from the person accused being, in almost every instance, the parent .... In this relation to the beings destroyed, the general term of murderer, or murder of offspring seems to be the fair converse of parricide; and will suit well the purpose of the Medico-legal writer, who considers the two cases as parts of one subject, for the designation of which collectively a proper term was wanting.

[Smith]

n. The crime of destroying one's offspring, either in the womb or after birth.

Prolicide is the act of killing one's own offspring.

It may refer to:

• Filicide
• Infanticide (killing of one's infant, 0-12 months)
• Feticide