What's Trending Now
More Trending Words
welkin was our Word of the Day on 07/23/2012. Hear the podcast!
Theme music by Joshua Stamper ©2006 New Jerusalem Music/ASCAP
Examples of welkin in a Sentence
the movie has been so overhyped that one half expects its opening to be accompanied by the proverbial ringing of the welkin
Did You Know?
When it comes to welkin, the sky's the limit. This heavenly word has been used in English to refer to the vault of the sky since at least the 12th century, and it derives from an earlier word from Old English that meant "cloud." In current English, welkin is still flying high, and it is often teamed with the verb ring to suggest a loud noise or an exuberant expression of emotion, as in "the welkin rang with the sound of the orchestra" or "her hearty laugh made the welkin ring." These contemporary phrases echo an older use-the original words of a carol that once began "Hark, how all the welkin ring," which we now know as "Hark! The herald angels sing."
Origin and Etymology of welkin
Middle English, literally, cloud, from Old English wolcen; akin to Old High German wolkan cloud
NEW! Time Traveler
First Known Use: 12th century
in the meaning defined at sense 1a
See Words from the same yearSeen and Heard
What made you want to look up welkin? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
