The Knights of Walpurgis and Madam Malkin (Was: Black Names)

[Geoff Bannister]

No: HPFGUIDX 154313

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "justcarol67" <justcarol67 at ...> wrote:

Carol:

> Note to Catlady regarding Madam Malkin: "Malkin" means "cat," as in
> "grimalkin" (gray cat). 
> http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/malkin
> http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/grimalkin

Geoff:
Interestingly, my mind jumped to:

"First witch: When shall we three meet again?
In thunder, lightning, or in rain?

Second witch: When the hurly-burly's done,
When the battle's lost, and won.

Third witch: That will be ere the set of sun.

First witch: Where the place?

Second witch: Upon the Heath.

Third witch:  There to meet with Macbeth.

First witch: I come, Graymalkin.

All: Paddock calls anon;
Fair is foul, and foul is fair,
Hover through the fog and filthy air."

(Macbeth Act 1: Scene 1)

Paddock is apparently an old name for a toad.

Seeing Catladfy's comment in reply, I've never 
heard of a cat called Malkin. The only place I've 
come across this is in the Shakespeare quoted above.