_Mawkin_ (Vol. ix., p. 303.).--An attempt to explain the origin of the word
_maukin_, or _malkin_, may be seen in the _Philological Museum_, vol. i. p.
681. (See also Halliwell's Dict., in _Malkin_ and _Maulkin_.) The most
probable derivation of the word is, that _malkin_ is a diminutive of _mal_,
abbreviated from _Mary_, now commonly written _Moll._ Hence, by successive
changes, _malkin_ or _maukin_ might mean a dirty wench, a figure of old
rags dressed up as a scarecrow, and a mop of rags used for cleaning ovens.
The Scotch _maukin_, for a hare, seems to be an instance of an animal
acquiring a proper name, like _renard_ in French, and _jack_ for _pike_ in
English.