What does "malkin" mean?
A (stereotypical name for a) lower-class or uncultured woman; a kitchenmaid; a slattern.
Malkin
/ˈmɔːlkɪn/ name, noun
name, noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A (stereotypical name for a) lower-class or uncultured woman; a kitchenmaid; a slattern.
- Grammar: malkin is listed as name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: cat, scarecrow.
- Usage evidence: Ȝe ne haue na more meryte · in masse ne in houres / Þan Malkyn of hire maydenhode · þat no man desireth. You gain no more merit from mass or your prayers / Than Malkin from her maidenhood, which no man desires.
How to use "malkin"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "malkin" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "malkin" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "malkin" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "malkin" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
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- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "malkin" is acting as name, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "cat" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "malkin", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A (stereotypical name for a) lower-class or uncultured woman; a kitchenmaid; a slattern. archaic, regional
"Ȝe ne haue na more meryte · in masse ne in houres / Þan Malkyn of hire maydenhode · þat no man desireth. You gain no more merit from mass or your prayers / Than Malkin from her maidenhood, which no man desires."
- 2 A mop, especially one used to clean a baker's oven. regional
""She had no sooner said so, but they all vanished saving onely one Peter Grospetter, whom a little after she saw snatch'd up into the aire, and to let fall his Maulkin (a stick that they make clean Ovens withall) and her self was also driven so forcibly with the wind, that it made her almost Lose her breath.""
- 3 A mop or sponge attached to a jointed staff for swabbing out a cannon. obsolete
- 4 A scarecrow. archaic, regional
"[A] straw malkin like thee, which the very crows are not afraid to perch on[.]"
- 5 A cat. archaic
"Now she was strong enough to walk and watch them circling in the sky or to sit in the arbour at the end of the long lawn and, with the sunlight smouldering in her dark-red hair and lying wanly over the area of her face and neck, watch the multiform and snow-white convolutions of her malkins."
Show 1 more definition
- 6 A hare. Northern-England, Scotland
"There was milk punch and spiced whisky, a smell of goose and maukin roasting on the spit."
Proper Noun
- 1 A surname transferred from the given name.
"Young Americans for Freedom (YAF), a group that promotes conservatism on college campuses, has kicked one of its prominent speakers, Michelle Malkin, to the curb. […] YAF did exactly the right thing by disassociating itself from Malkin for coming to Fuentes’ defense."
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"Ȝe ne haue na more meryte · in masse ne in houres / Þan Malkyn of hire maydenhode · þat no man desireth. You gain no more merit from mass or your prayers / Than Malkin from her maidenhood, which no man desires."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "malkin"?
Common synonyms include: cat, scarecrow.
How do you use "malkin" in a sentence?
Ȝe ne haue na more meryte · in masse ne in houres / Þan Malkyn of hire maydenhode · þat no man desireth. You gain no more merit from mass or your prayers / Than Malkin from her maidenhood, which no man desires.
How do you pronounce "malkin"?
Pronounced /ˈmɔːlkɪn/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Malde, an early form of Maude or Matilda + -kin (diminutive ending). Compare grimalkin.
Etymology 2
Matronymic surname, from a diminutive form of the medieval personal name Malle, a pet form of Mary.