malkin
/ˈmɔːlkɪn/noun
malkin is spelled M-A-L-K-I-N: 6 letters and 2 syllables. It appears about once in every 2 million words in written English, the 37,943rd most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, malkin means “A mop, especially one used to clean a baker's oven” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of malkin is malkins.
How many letters and syllables are in malkin?
| Letters | 6: M-A-L-K-I-N |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | about once in every 2 million words; the 37,943rd most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation and the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is malkin?
Malkin appears about once in every 2 million words in written English, the 37,943rd most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce malkin?
- /ˈmɔːlkɪn/
Malkin has 2 syllables (counted from its American pronunciation in the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Forms of malkin
- malkins plural
- maukin
- maulkin
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does malkin mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
archaicA (stereotypical name for a) lower-class or uncultured woman; a kitchenmaid; a slattern.
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.
"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 drive
- 3
obsoleteA mop or sponge attached to a jointed staff for swabbing out a cannon.
- 4
archaicA scarecrow.
- 5
archaicA cat.
- 6
ScotlandA hare.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Where does malkin come from?
From Malde, an early form of Maude or Matilda + -kin (diminutive ending). Compare grimalkin.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).