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Webster 1913 Edition


Sooterkin

Soot′er-kin

,
Noun.
[Cf. Prov. G.
suttern
to boil gently.]
A kind of false birth, fabled to be produced by Dutch women from sitting over their stoves; also, an abortion, in a figurative sense; an abortive scheme.
Fruits of dull heat, and
sooterkins
of wit.
Pope.

Webster 1828 Edition


Sooterkin

SOOT'ERKIN

,
Noun.
A kind of false birth fabled to be produced by the Dutch women from sitting over their stoves.

Definition 2024


sooterkin

sooterkin

English

Noun

sooterkin (plural sooterkins)

  1. A mouse-like creature which, according to folklore, Dutch women who sit over stoves give birth to.
  2. (figuratively) An abortive scheme.
    Fruits of dull heat, and sooterkins of wit. Alexander Pope.
  3. Used to refer to a person, especially a Dutch person, in an allusive manner. (Can we add an example for this sense?)

References