Milk

n. [A-S. miluc, meoluc, meoloc, meole, milc, mele, O. Fries. meloc, Goth. miluks, Icel. miölk, Sw. mjölk, Dan., D., & L. Ger. melk, O. H. Ger. miluh, miloh, M. H. Ger. milich, mileh, N. H. Ger. milch, allied to Russ. moloko, O. Slav. mlěko, Pol. & Bohem. mleko.]

1Sense 1. A white fluid secreted by female mammals for the nourishment of their young. It consists of a solution of caseine and various salts, with minute globular cells of fat.

2Sense 2. Hence, the white juice of certain plants.

3Sense 3. Emulsion made by bruising seeds; as, the milk of almonds, produced by pounding almonds with sugar and water.

☞ This word is frequently used in self-explaining compounds denoting that which relates to, resembles, contains, or is made of, milk, &c.; as, milk-man, milk-market, milk-meat, milk-pail, milk-pan, milk-pap (teat), milk-porridge, milk-pottage, milk-punch, milk-store, milk-warm, milk-woman, and the like.

Milk of lime, water mixed with quicklime;—so called from its resemblance to milk in color and consistence.—Sugar of milk (Chem.), the sugar held in solution in milk. It is peculiar as not undergoing alcoholic fermentation.

[imp. & p. p. MILKED (mĭlkt); p. pr. & vb. n. MILKING.] [A-S. melcan, meolcan, milcian, meolcian, O. H. Ger. melchan, M. H. Ger. melchen, N. H. Ger. & D. melken, Icel. miolka, Sw. mjölka, Dan. melke, mölke, allied to Lat. mulgere, Gr. ἀμέλγειν, Lith. milszti, Slav. mlěsti.]

1Sense 1. To draw or press milk from, by the hand or mouth; to withdraw the milk of.

I have given suck, and know How tender 'tis to love the babe that milks me. Shak.

2Sense 2. To draw from the breasts or udder; to extract, as milk.

3Sense 3. To supply with milk; to mingle milk with; to add milk to.