Mawk

Pronunciation

• IPA: /mɔːk/

Origin

From Middle English mawk, mauk, a contraction of mathek, from Old Norse maðkr ("maggot"), a diminutive of a base from Proto-Germanic *maþô ("worm") (Old English maþa), from Indo-European *math-, moth- used in reference to insects and vermin. Cognate with Danish madike, Swedish mask, archaic English maddock (modern maggot).

Full definition of mawk

Noun

1. (obsolete except in dialects) a maggot
2. (UK, dialect, obsolete) a slattern

Related terms

• mawkish
• mawky