Welkin

Forms: α. 1–2 wolcen, wolcn (2 wlcn), wolc, 2–3 wolcne, 3–4 wolkne, (1) 4 wolken(e, wolkon; pl. 1 wolcnu, -na, 2 wolcne (wlcne), wolkne. β. 2–3 weolcne (also pl.), 4 weolkyn; 3–5 welkne, 4–5 welkene, 4–7 welken (4 welcon); 4–6 welkyn, 5 -yne, 5, 7 welkine, 6– welkin (7 -ing, wellkin, wilkin). γ. 3–5 walkne, walkene (4 -en), 4–5 walkyn(e. [OE. wolcen, wolcn neut. = OFris. wolcn- (olcn-, ulcn-), wolken (olken, ulken; WFris. wolken, wolk-e, NFris. wolk), OS. wolcan, wolcn- (MLG. wolke-n, wulke, LG. wolk-e, wulk-e; MDu. wolcke, Du. wolk), OHG. wolkan, wolchan (MHG. wolken, G. wolke); the word is lacking in the Scand. group and not recorded in Gothic. A rare OE. wolcne wk. fem., is also represented in early ME.

  The phonology of the ME. forms with eo, e, and a in the stem is irregular. It has been suggested that the eo and e are due to mutation, but there is no obvious reason for the change, and the explanation still leaves the fornis with a unaccounted for. In a number of the early ME. instances it is difficult to decide whether the forms are to be taken as singular or plural.]

  † 1.  A cloud. Obs.

  In OE., esp. in poetry, freq. in plural, esp. in the phrase under wolcnum = under the sky or heaven (cf. sense 2).

Beowulf, 651. Scaduhelma ʓesceapu scriðan cwoman, wan under wolcnum.

c. 825.  Vesp. Psalter, civ. 39. A ðeneð wolcen in ʓescildnisse heara.

c. 897.  K. Ælfred, Gregory’s Past. C., xxxix. 285. Se ðe him ælc wolcn ondrædt, ne ripð se næfre. Ibid. Se wind drifeð ðæt wolcn.

971.  Blickl. Hom., 59. Ealle þa ʓewitaþ swa swa wolcn.

c. 1000.  Ags. Gosp., Matt. xxvi. 64. Æfter þysum ʓe ʓeseoð mannes bearn … cumendne on heofones wolcnum.

c. 1050.  O. E. Chron. (C.), an. 979. Þy ilcan ʓeare wæs ʓesewen blodiʓ wolcen on oft siðas on fyres ʓelicnesse.

c. 1205.  Lay., 11974. Swurken vnder sunnen sweorte weolcnen. Ibid., 25592. Þa com þer … winden mid þan weolcnen a berninge drake.

  2.  The apparent arch or vault of heaven overhead; the sky, the firmament.

  In later use (from 16th c.) only literary (chiefly poet.) and dial. (Lancs.).

  α.  1122.  O. E. Chron. (Laud MS.). Hi sæʓon on norð east fir micel & brad wið þone eorðe & weax on lengþe up on an to þam wolcne & se wolcne un dide on fower healfe and faht þær to ʓeanes.

c. 1200.  Trin. Coll. Hom., 151. Þe sunne teð water from eorðe up to þe wolcne.

c. 1205.  Lay., 27452. Þa wolcne gon to dunien, Þa eo[r]ðe gon to biuien.

1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), App. E 4. Þer hi bigan his fliȝt, & fley him swiþe an hey Vp bi þe lofte fer, and þe wolkne was wel ney.

c. 1315.  Shoreham, VII. 68. Þe wolkne by-clepþ al þe molde.

1387.  Trevisa, Higden, V. 399. Ethelbert spak wiþ hem out of house under þe wolken [sub divo].

  β.  c. 1205.  Lay., 2883. He ferde swiðe hehʓe Þere weolcne he wes swiðe nih.

a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 306. Al þene world leitende of swarte leite up into weolcne.

a. 1250.  Owl & Night., 1682 (Jesus MS.). We habbe stefne brihte & sitteþ vnder welkne bi nyhte.

a. 1310.  in Wright, Lyric P., xlii. 114. Ase fele sythe ant oft … As sterres beth in welkne.

1377.  Langl., P. Pl., B. XVII. 160. Al þe wyde worlde … Bothe welkne and þe wynde, water and erthe, Heuene & helle.

1387.  Trevisa, Higden, III. 459. It is ful likynge to us to beholde þe welkene and þe sterres of hevene.

c. 1420.  Anturs of Arth., 328 (Douce MS.). Þe windes, þe weders, þe welkene vnhides.

a. 1500[?].  Chester Pl., Creation, 21. To be a divident to twyne the waters aye; Above the welkin, benethe also.

1529.  More, Dyaloge, III. Wks. 1222/2. He … caste vp his eyen in to the welkin and wepte.

1551.  Recorde, Cast. Knowl. (1556), 7. Whiche parte is aboue all the foure Elementes, and compasseth them about, and is called the Skie, or Welkin.

1591.  Sylvester, Du Bartas, I. ii. 414. That lightly born … Safe through the Welkin I my course may take.

1632.  Lithgow, Trav., III. 81. When the welkin had put aside the vizard of the night.

1662.  Hibbert, Syntagma Theol., I. 29. Light … diffuseth in an instant the whole welkin over.

1678.  Vaughan, Thalia Rediv., Daphnis, 18. Not one Black cloud, no rags, nor spots did stain The Welkins beauty.

1714.  Gay, Sheph. Week, I. 3. No chirping Lark the Welkin sheen invokes.

1748.  Thomson, Cast. Indol., I. lviii. There would he linger, till the latest ray Of light sat trembling on the welkin’s bound.

1817.  Scott, Harold, I. ii. If a sail but gleam’d white ’gainst the welkin blue.

1857.  Longf., Sandalphon, 44. When … the welkin above is all white, All throbbing and panting with stars.

  fig.  1849.  C. Brontë, Shirley, xxviii. I … see a fine, perfect rainbow, bright with promise, gloriously spanning the beclouded welkin of life.

1868.  Lowell, Under Willows, 284. And all the heavens revolve In the small welkin of a drop of dew.

  γ.  c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 96. Ðo god bad ben ðe firmament, Al abuten ðis walkne sent.

13[?].  K. Alis., 1737 (Laud MS.). Ich haue moo kniȝttes to werren Þan ben in þe walken sterren.

1377.  Langl., P. Pl., B. XV. 355. Shipmen and shepherdes … Wisten by þe walkene, what shulde bityde.

c. 1407.  Lydg., Reson & Sens., 1006. As sterris in the frosty nyght, Whanne walkne is most bryght, With-oute cloude or any skye.

c. 1450.  Cov. Myst., Creation, 86. The secunde day watyr I make The walkyn also ful fayr and bryth.

  b.  Considered as the abode of the Deity, or of the gods of heathen mythology: The celestial regions, heaven.

1559.  Mirr. Magistr., Hen. VI., xiii. If … such as say the welken fortune warkes, Take Fortune for our fate.

1581.  A. Hall, Iliad, I. 6. But Iuno hearde from Welkin high, this cruell iarre. Ibid., II. 31. Of Gods thou Ioue the soueraigne chiefe, and Lord of Welkin hie Of aire, and of this earth below.

1610.  Holland, Camden’s Brit., I. 327. How glittereth now this place of great request, Like to the seat of heavenly welkin hie?

1653.  W. Ramesey, Astrol. Restored, III. vii. 157. It is Nectar and Ambrosia such as will make the wilkin roar.

1852.  Kingsley, Andromeda, 34. Far-seeing Apollo Watched well-pleased from the welkin.

  c.  in phrases descriptive of loud sounds, as to make the welkin ring, to rend the welkin, etc.

1587.  Marlowe, 1st Pt. Tamburl., IV. ii. 1489 (Brooke). As when a fiery exhalation Wrapt in the bowels of a freezing cloude, Fighting for passage, makes the Welkin cracke.

a. 1593.  Marlowe & Nashe, Dido, IV. ii. 1103. O heare Iarbus plaining prayers, Whose hideous ecchoes make the welkin howle.

1596.  Shaks., Tam. Shr., Induct. ii. 47. Thy hounds shall make the Welkin answer them.

1635.  Quarles, Embl., viii. 33. One frisks and sings,… and makes the Welkin rore.

1728.  Pope, Dunc., II. 246. Sound forth, my Brayers, and the welkin rend.

1735.  Somerville, Chase, II. 157. The Welkin rings, Men, Dogs, Hills, Rocks, and Woods In the full Consort join.

1814.  Southey, Roderick, III. 368. That shout, Which, like a thunder-peal, victorious Spain Sent through the welkin, rung within his soul Its deep prophetic echoes.

1818.  Wordsw., Inscr. Hermit’s Cell, v. 10. When storms the welkin rend.

1837.  Carlyle, Fr. Rev., III. I. vii. ‘Live the Fatherland!’ rings responsive to the welkin.

1854.  Surtees, Handley Cr., i. Away they go full cry, making the welkin ring with the music of their deep-toned notes.

1874.  Dixon, Two Queens, VII. i. II. 2. The citizens rent the welkin with their shouts.

  d.  in the asseveration by the welkin.

1601.  B. Jonson, Poetaster, I. i. This villanous poetrie will vndoe you, by the welkin.

1822.  Scott, Peveril, xxxviii. Which, by the welkin and its stars, you would not be slow in avenging.

  e.  To the welkin, ‘to the skies’ (SKY sb.¹ 3 d).

c. 1746.  J. Collier (Tim Bobbin), View Lancs. Dial., Wks. (1862), 58. This Rascot … roost meh Bitch to the varra Welkin.

  3.  The upper atmosphere; the region of the air in which the clouds float, birds fly, etc.

13[?].  Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 525. Wroþe wynde of þe welkyn wrastelez with þe sunne.

c. 1369.  Chaucer, Dethe Blaunche, 313. Ne in al the welkyn was no clowde.

c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 7621. Ouershotyng with shoures thurgh þere shene tenttes, As neuer water fro the welkyn hade waynit before.

a. 1450.  Mirk’s Festial, 160. Men of all þe nacyons … werne comen togedyr ynto þe tempule for fere of þe berst þat þay herd yn þe welken.

1570.  Levins, Manip., 134/21. The Welkin, aire, aura, aër.

1582.  Stanyhurst, Æneis, III. (Arb.), 89. Thee stars imparted no light, thee welken is heauye.

1601.  W. Percy, Cuckqucanes & Cuckolds Errants, V. iv. (Roxb.), 69. Hold vp thy Lynk I say, I may obserue the state of the welking. Rayne or no Rayne? Ha.

1645.  G. Daniel, Poems, Wks. 1878, II. 42. The Royall Eagle, in the welkin towers.

16[?].  Chalkhill, Thealma & Cl. (1683), 160. One might perceive such changes in the King As hath th’ inconstant wellkin in the Spring.

1713.  Croxall, Orig. Canto Spenser, x. (1714), 12. When the blasting Mildew’s dreary Bane With noisom Breath infects the Welkin sheen.

1752.  Smollett, Reprisal, Epil. If this welkin angry clouds deform.

1853.  C. Brontë, Villette, xxxv. Down washed the rain, deep lowered the welkin.

1876.  Blackie, Songs Relig. & Life, 19. Breath that drew the rolling rivers From the welkin’s dewy cells.

1880.  Webb, Goethe’s Faust, I. ii. 67. The baleful powers of air, Which through the welkin stream.

  fig.  1601.  Shaks., Twel. N., III. i. 65. Who you are, and what you would are out of my welkin, I might say Element, but the word is ouer-worne.

  † 4.  In the Ptolemaic system: A ‘heaven’ or sphere. Obs.

c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 288. And euerilc on ðat helden wid him [Lucifer] … fellen ut of heuones liȝt In-to ðis middil walknes niȝt.

1387.  Trevisa, Higden, II. 185. Þe planetes and þe neyþer wolkons moeueþ out of þe west in to þe est. Ibid. The meouynge of þe ouermeste wolken out of þe est in to þe west.

  5.  attrib. and Comb., as welkin-country, -dome, -way; welkin-high, -like adjs.; † welkin-eye, a heavenly or blue eye; welkin-wise adv., after the fashion of the welkin; † welkin-wizard, an almanac-maker who makes astrological forecasts.

1581.  A. Hall, Iliad, I. 15. The God his mansion keepes, In Welkin Country he remaines.

1860.  G. P. Morris, Poems (ed. 15), 169. When victory rent the *welkin-dome He earned a sepulchre—at home.

1611.  Shaks., Wint. T., I. ii. 136. Come (Sir Page) Looke on me with your *Welkin eye.

1804.  J. Grahame, Sabbath, 875. The joyous choir unseen, Poised *welkin-high, harmonious fills the air.

1839.  Bailey, Festus, 254. That high and *welkin-like infinity.

1590.  Spenser, F. Q., I. iv. 9. He leaves the *welkin way most beaten playne, And, rapt with whirling wheeles, inflames the skyen With fire not made to burne.

1854.  J. D. Burns, Vision of Prophecy, 122. A luminous element of gladness Now vaults our sphere of being *welkin-wise.

1596.  Barlow, trans. Lavater’s Three Serm., i. 10. The coniectures of these *Welkin Wisards [marg. Almanacke makers], whose Prognostications of euerie yeares warres, diseases, heate, colde, [etc.] … proue either manifest vntruthes, or coniecturall ghesses.