Pronunciation: [ɡɹˈɪmɐlkˌɪn] (IPA) 
Grimalkin, a word used to describe an old female cat, is spelled with two separate sounds: "grim" and "alkin." The "grim" sound is represented by the letter combination "gr," which produces a hard G and a soft R sound. The "alkin" sound is represented by the letters "al" and "kin," and produces a long A vowel sound followed by a K and an IN sound. The IPA phonetic transcription for Grimalkin is /ˈɡrɪm.æl.kɪn/.
Grimalkin is a noun that refers to an old, female cat, typically thought to bring bad luck or associated with witches and witchcraft. The term is derived from the combination of two words: "grim" meaning sinister or forbidding, and "malkin" which is an archaic term for a low-class woman or a kitchen maid.
In folklore and literature, a grimalkin is often depicted as a cat with mystical or supernatural attributes. It is closely associated with witches and is said to be their familiar or companion. The grimalkin is believed to possess magical powers and is frequently mentioned in myths and legends as an integral part of witchcraft practices. Interestingly, this association originates from the medieval superstitions and stereotypes surrounding elderly, solitary women who lived with cats.
The image of a grimalkin has been popularized in various works of literature, particularly in Shakespeare's Macbeth, where the witches' familiar is called Graymalkin. Furthermore, grimalkins are also found in fairy tales, fantasy novels, and even modern-day fiction, often embodying both wisdom and mystery.
In a more general and modern sense, the term grimalkin can be used metaphorically to describe a mean, spiteful or grumpy individual, typically an older woman. It can also convey a sense of an experienced and shrewd person, perhaps due to the association with the wisdom attributed to cats.
An old cat; a fiend supposed to resemble an old cat.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
The word "Grimalkin" is believed to have originated from Old English and Middle English. In Old English, "grim" meant "grim, fierce, or cruel" and "elne" referred to a female cat. Over time, these two words combined to form "grimenelne" or "grima alden", which translates to "grey cat". Eventually, "grima" transformed into "grim" and "alden" turned into "alkin", resulting in the word "Grimalkin" which refers to a cat, typically an old female cat.
