oldest'un
The oldest one, usually the eldest kid in the bunch.
Also called oldest one, oldestun.
Updated September 24, 2026
oldest'un pronunciation
/OLE-dist-un/
Meaning
Oldest'un is oldest one with the mountain ending 'un stuck on. Most often it means the eldest child in a family, the one who got chores first and blame second. It can stretch to the oldest dog, tractor, or cow in a group when folks are ranking the lineup by age.
How folks use it
- “Send the oldest'un out to fetch the mail. He's tall enough to reach the box.”
- “That plow is my oldest'un. Bought it before the kids were born.”
Origin and etymology
Appalachian and Southern English clip one down to 'un after adjectives: young'un, little'un, big'un, that'un. Oldest'un follows the same pattern. The reduced 'un goes back to older British and Scots-Irish speech that settled hard in the mountains.
Frequently asked questions
Is oldest'un only for children?
Mostly kids, but people use it for the oldest of almost anything in a set.