Graymalkin

/ɡreɪˈmɔːlkɪn/ noun

Definition

An old or gray cat, or a cat-like creature; sometimes used in witchcraft folklore to refer to a familiar spirit.

Etymology

From Middle English, combining gray with malkin (an old word for cat, derived from the name Maud/Matilda). The term appears in Shakespeare and other Renaissance literature referring to supernatural cats.

Kelly Says

Shakespeare mentions 'Graymalkin' in Macbeth as one of the witches' familiars, and this single word has kept the term alive for over 400 years in English literature and fantasy!

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.