Middle English Dictionary Entry
malkin n.
Entry Info
Forms | malkin n. Also male-, makin, malin. |
Etymology | Dim. of Matilda. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Woman's name; -- often used as jocular or contemptuous term for a servant woman, a young woman of the lower classes, or a woman of loose morals; (b) a mop or bundle of rags used for cleaning; esp. for cleaning ovens; (c) an impotent man; (d) in surnames.
Associated quotations
a
- c1275 LSSerm.(Clg A.9)188/54 : Þes persones..ne beoþ heo noȝt for-bore, Ne þeos prude ȝungemen þat luuieþ malekin, And þeos prude maidenes þat luuieþ Ianekin.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.30 : It wol nat come agayn..Namoore than wol Malkyns [vr. malkenys] maydenhede, Whan she hath lost it in hir wantownesse.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.NP.(Manly-Rickert)B.4574 : Ran Colle oure dogge..And Malkyn with a distaf in hire hand.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)1.158 : Ȝe ne haue no more meryt..Þanne malkyn [vr. makyn] of hire maidenhed, þat no man desiriþ.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)323 : Malkyne, or Mawt, propyr name: Matildis.
b
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)323 : Malkyne, mappyl, or oven swepare: Dossorium [Win: Dorsorium], tersorium.
- (1446) Invent.Lytham in Chet.n.s.6079 : In primis ij hovyns, ij pelis, j malyn, j colrake, j muldyngbord.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)77a : Malyne: tersorium.
- ?a1500 Lndsb.Nominale (Lndsb)808/31 : Hoc tersorium, Anglice, a malkyn.
- ?a1500 Trin-C.LEDict.Suppl.(Trin-C O.5.4)616/12 : A malkyn [Trin-C.LEDict.: Tersorium, anglice, a swepelles].
c
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)30a/a : Gallinacius: homo debilis, a malkym [read: malkyn] & a capon.
d
- (1284) Court R.Ramsey162 : Johannes Malekin.
- (1297) Sub.R.Yks.in YASRS 16130 : Ric. Malkyn.
- (1327) Sub.R.Som.in Som.RS 3220 : Walterus Malkyn.
- (1327) Sub.R.Stf.in WSAS 7222 : Willelmus Malkyns.
- (1327) Sub.R.Sus.in Sus.RS 10147 : Walt Malkynesone.