English
malengine
Malengine comes from Anglo-Norman mal engin.
- Anglo-Normanc. 1066–1400mal engin
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500male engyn
- Englishearliest quotation 1590malengine
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Anglo-Normanc. 1066–1400mal engin
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500male engyn
- Englishearliest quotation 1590malengine
Earliest quotation: 1590, Edmund Spenser, Book III, Canto I: “But the chaſte damzell, that had neuer priefe /…”
Every English word from Anglo-Norman mal engin
Today it means
noun Evil intent, bad intention; fraud, deceit.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Anglo-Norman mal engin / malengine