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malkin

.
Searchable Lemmata: malkin (ME), malkin (MdE).
Alternate Forms:

    Definitions and Defining Citations:

1(n.) Accessory; originally (from the thirteenth century), a woman's name (diminutive of Maud), which came to be used as a nickname for lower-class or dishevelled women, especially servants; by extension, a mop or similar item used to clean or sweep.(circa 1440 - post 1900)
1. [319] ... Madyr herbe: Sandix, rubia major ... [323] ... Malkyne, mappyl, or oven swepare [Phil: ouen swepe]: Dossorium, tersorium. Lexicon. [MED PParv. ((Hrl 221) 319-323) 1440]
c.f.: mapple, swipple, tersorium
ME, MdE.
Sex: Female    Ceremonial: No
Body Parts:

    Etymological Evidence:

Definite, Maud, Mald (originally short forms of Matilda) + -kin pet-name/diminutive suffix.
WF: Derivation
Etym Cog:
References:
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