Middle English Dictionary Entry
skulken v.
Entry Info
| Forms | skulken v. Also skulke, sculk(e(n, skulc; p. skulked, sculked, (error) skulded; ppl. skulked, (errors) slulkyd(e. |
| Etymology | ON: cp. Dan. skulke to lie hid, Norw. dial. skulka to lurk, Swed. skolka to play truant. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To go or move furtively, slink; also fig. of death; ~ aboute; ~ awei; -- also refl.; ~ oute, make a sneak attack; (b) to hide, lie concealed; ben skulked, be in hiding, be hidden; ?ppl. skulked as adj.: concealed, lurking; (c) transl. of L tabescere: to shrivel up, fade away; languish, pine; ~ awei.
Associated quotations
a
- ?c1335 Sith Gabriell gan (Hrl 913)p.162 : For ferdnis hi wold quake And fond to sculk awai.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.2720 : Awey he skulketh as an hare.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)13741 : Ne wist þai neuer quat to sai; Bot ilkan sculked þaim [Göt: skulked þaim; Trin-C: for shame stale] awai.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)18512 : Fra sinagog þai went..A-pon þair breistes can þai bulk, And ilkan til þairs in to sculk [Göt: skulc].
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.242,243 : Dauid..fled fro his broþer, skulkand with disceite..Now skulkes Dauid aboute; to wynne it ilk a dele, His heritage þat is oute, he wenes fulle wele.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)1788 : Þe dede..alle thyng..brestes in sonder Als it sculkes [vr. stalkes] by diverse ways.
- a1450(1419) Loke how Flaundres (Dgb 102)8 : Þe glosers skulked away, for shame of here sooles.
- c1450(c1400) Sultan Bab.(Gar 140)2651 : Take withe the iij hundred knightes..Leste þat lurdeynes come skulkynge oute For ever thay haue bene shrewes.
- 1451-1500 Tundale (Wagner)755 : He besought þe angelle bryght Þat he wold let hym away skulke.
b
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)6976 : Þat herde þe Bretons alle aboute, Þo þat er skulked for drede & doute.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)8287 : Hengist byforn had don hem skulke In wodes, in hilles, to crepe in hulke.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)15887 : Al þat ilke day he sculked; Among þe pouere men he hulked.
- c1475 Capgr.St.Kath.(RwlPoet 118)4.42 : Slulkyd [read: skulkyd; vrr. slulkyde, flukyng; Arun 396: It is to hem of solace newe socour..to fighte with corage fresh and bolde..A-geyns the flesshly slughed neglygens].
c
- a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)38.15 : For wickednes þat he was inne Ouerthrew þou man and his kinne, And to skulke [L tabescere] als irain þou made saule his.
- a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)106.26 : Þe saule ofe þam lesse and mare, In iuels sculked ite þare.
- a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)111.9 : Sinful sal se, and wrath he sal, And gnaiste his tethe he sal with-al, And sal sculke to be awai.
- a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)118.158 : I sagh wemmand and skulded [read: skulked] awai, For þi speches noght yhemed þai.
- a1400 NVPsalter (Hrl 1770)138.20 : Þat hated þe, lauerd, hated i; I sculked [WBible(1): dwynede] ouer mi [?read: þi] fas for-þi.