Malkin

The nickname of Mary, now called Molly. Hence the Maid Marian is so termed.

Malkin. A kitchen wench, now called a Molly, is by Shakespeare termed “the kitchen Malkin. (Coriolanus, ii. 1.)

Malkin. A scarecrow or figure dressed like a scullion; hence, anything made of rags, as a mop.

Malkin. A Moll or female cat, the male being a “Tom.” When the cat mews, the witch in Macbeth calls out, “I come, Grimalkin” (i. 1).

· ·

Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.