mirkning

English

Alternative forms

• mirkenin, mirkinnen, mirknin, murknin, mirkening

Etymology

From Scots mirken (“to grow dark, darken, become overcast”), from Old Norse myrkna (“dark, gloomy”) + -ing (noun-forming suffix), equivalent to mirken +‎ -ing.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈmɜːk(ə)nɪŋ/

Noun

mirkning (plural not attested)

1. (Scotland, now Orkney and Shetland) Late twilight, dusk; darkening of evening.

   Synonyms: crepusculum, dimmity, nightfall

   • 1883, Anthony Cunningham M’Bryde, edited by David Herschell Edwards, Modern Scottish Poets: With Biographical and Critical Notices, page 185:

     The gloaming glories o’ the lift hae dwined awa’ to grey,
     And clachan lichts begin to blink ayont the mirkning brae.

See also

• Thesaurus:dusk