or maukin, mawkin, subs. (old).—1. Originally (JOHNSON) a kitchen-wench (MOLL for Mary + KIN). Hence, a dish-clout; a scarecrow; a wisp: and so, a slattern.
1579. GOSSON, The Schoole of Abuse, p. 37 (ARBER). There are more houses then Parishe Churches, more maydes then MAULKIN, more wayes to the woode than one.
1596. NASHE, Have with You to Saffron-Walden [GROSART, iii. 169]. He makes a MAULKIN and a shoo-clout of her.
1606. DEKKER, Newes from Hell [GROSART (1886), ii. 120]. Filthyer then a Bakers MAWKIN that hee sweeps his ouen [with].
1610. SHAKESPEARE, Coriolanus, ii. 1.
| The kitchen MALKIN pins | |
| Her richest lockram round her reechy neck. |
1629. DAVENANT, Albovine, iv. Grim. ’Las poor MAULKIN! she’s caught!
c. 1696. B. E., A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew, s.v. MALKIN or MAUKIN, a Scare-crow, Drest and Set up to fright the birds…. Hence MALKIN-TRASH, for one in a rueful Dress, enough to fright one. There are more Maids than MALKINS. MAWKS, the same abbreviated. Mawkish, a Wallowish, ill Tast.
1693. CONGREVE, The Old Bachelor, iii. 2. Thou MAUKIN, made up of the shreds and parings of his superfluous fopperies.
1728. SWIFT, Ballyspellin (Answer) [CHALMERS, English Poets, xi. 525].
| Your MAWKINS there smocks hempen wear, | |
| Of Holland not an ell in. |
1785. GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v.
1847–50. TENNYSON, The Princess, v. 25. Or a draggled MAWKIN, thou.
1872. Gardener’s Chronicle, 22 Nov. Our old friend of the hat and coat all stuffed with straw (in some districts called a MAWKIN) is in nine cases out of ten useless.
2. (Scots’).—A hare; also (old) a cat.
1787. BURNS, Tam Samson’s Elegy. Ye MAUKINS, cock your fud fu’ braw.
3. (Scots’).—The female pudendum: i.e., PUSSIE (q.v.). Also ROUCH-MAWKIN.
1540. LYNDSAY, Ane Pleasant Satyre of the Thrie Estaitis, line 1924.
| And ye Ladies, that list to pisch, | |
| Lift up your taill, plat in ane disch; | |
| And gif that your MAWKINE cryis quhisch, | |
| Stop in ane wusp of stray. |
