grimalkin: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (archaic/obsolete)Literary, archaic, occasionally humorous
Quick answer
What does “grimalkin” mean?
An old female cat, often scrawny or irritable.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An old female cat, often scrawny or irritable.
A malicious or ill-tempered old woman (archaic/pejorative).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Equally rare and archaic in both varieties.
Connotations
Literary, historical, potentially whimsical when referring to a cat; deeply offensive if applied to a person.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency; almost never used in contemporary speech or writing outside deliberate archaism.
Grammar
How to Use “grimalkin” in a Sentence
The [adjective] grimalkin [verb].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “grimalkin” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Only in historical/literary analysis.
Everyday
Not used; would be misunderstood.
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “grimalkin”
- Using it in modern contexts.
- Applying it to a person without understanding its offensive nature.
- Misspelling as 'grimalkin' or 'grimelkin'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Only if you intend a humorous, old-fashioned, or slightly critical tone. It is not a neutral word for 'cat'.
No. This usage is archaic and was always pejorative, equivalent to calling someone a hag or crone. It is offensive.
From 'gray' (an archaic form of 'grey') + 'Malkin', a diminutive of the female name Maud. It literally meant 'grey little Maud'.
Most likely not. It is an obsolete word known mainly to readers of classic English literature.
An old female cat, often scrawny or irritable.
Grimalkin is usually literary, archaic, occasionally humorous in register.
Grimalkin: in British English it is pronounced /ɡrɪˈmalkɪn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ɡrɪˈmælkɪn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None in common use.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a GRIM, scrawny ALley cat named KIN - a grim-AL-kin.
Conceptual Metaphor
OLD AGE IS WRINKLED/SCRAWNY; MALICE IS A SHARP CLAW.
Practice
Quiz
Which context is MOST appropriate for the word 'grimalkin'?