| Gavelkind | n. [ OE. gavelkynde, gavelkende. See Gavel tribute, and Kind, n. ] (O. Eng. Law) A tenure by which land descended from the father to all his sons in equal portions, and the land of a brother, dying without issue, descended equally to his brothers. It still prevails in the county of Kent. Cowell. [ 1913 Webster ] |
| Welkin | n. [ OE. welken, welkene, welkne, wolcne, weolcne, AS. wolcen, pl. wolcnu, a cloud; akin to D. wolk, OFries. wolken, OS. wolkan, G. wolke, OHG. wolchan, and probably to G. welk withered, OHG. welc moist, Russ. & OSlav. vlaga moisture, Lith. vilgyti to moisten. ] The visible regions of the air; the vault of heaven; the sky. [ 1913 Webster ] On the welkne shoon the sterres lyght. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ] The fair welkin foully overcast. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ] When storms the welkin rend. Wordsworth. [ 1913 Webster ] ☞ Used adjectively by Shakespeare in the phase, “Your welkin eye, ” with uncertain meaning. [ 1913 Webster ] |
