malkin

/ˈmɔːlkɪn/

//ˈmɔːlkɪn// noun

"malkin" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“malkin” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #38,032 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#38,032
frequency rank, English
6
letters
9
tracked misspellings
20
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A (stereotypical name for a) lower-class or uncultured woman; a kitchenmaid; a slattern.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

malkin vs Marin
50% similar
malkin vs martin
67% similar
malkin vs margin
67% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for malkin
PropertyValue
Headwordmalkin
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈmɔːlkɪn/
Letters6
Frequency rank#38,032
Misspellings tracked9
Confusable pairs20
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “malkin” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). malkin lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for malkin is 6 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈmɔːlkɪn/. Corpus data places it at rank #38,032 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 6 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 9 likely wrong-spelling variants for malkin, with forms such as "amlkin", "maklin", and "malikn". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. It also participates in 20 confusable-pair relationships, "Marin", "martin", "margin", and more, since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Malde, an early form of Maude or Matilda + -kin (diminutive ending). Compare grimalkin. The correct English form is malkin, spelled M-A-L-K-I-N.

Definition

  1. 1
    A (stereotypical name for a) lower-class or uncultured woman; a kitchenmaid; a slattern.
  2. 2
    A mop, especially one used to clean a baker's oven.
  3. 3
    A mop or sponge attached to a jointed staff for swabbing out a cannon.
  4. 4
    A scarecrow.
  5. 5
    A cat.
  6. 6
    A hare.

Etymology

From Malde, an early form of Maude or Matilda + -kin (diminutive ending). Compare grimalkin.

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: amlkin,maklin,malikn,malkinn,malkkin,malkni,mallkin,mlakin,mmalkin

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of malkin - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

amlkin2maklin2malikn2malkinn1malkkin1malkni2mallkin1mlakin2
Edit distance from "malkin"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "malkin"?
"malkin" is spelled M-A-L-K-I-N. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈmɔːlkɪn/.
What does "malkin" mean?
As a noun, "malkin" means: A (stereotypical name for a) lower-class or uncultured woman; a kitchenmaid; a slattern.
What words are commonly confused with "malkin"?
"malkin" is commonly confused with "Marin", "martin", "margin". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "malkin"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "malkin" is /ˈmɔːlkɪn/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "malkin"?
From Malde, an early form of Maude or Matilda + -kin (diminutive ending). Compare grimalkin. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “malkin”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is M-A-L-K-I-N - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈmɔːlkɪn/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “Marin” - see the side-by-side comparison. malkin vs Marin
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list