welkin Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the apparent surface of the imaginary sphere on which celestial bodies appear to be projected
    firmament; vault of heaven; empyrean; sphere; celestial sphere; heavens.

WordNet

Wel"kin noun
Etymology
OE. welken, welkene, welkne, wolcne, weolcne, AS. wolcen, pl. wolcnu, a cloud; akin to D. wolk, OFries. wolken, OS. wolkan, G. wolke, OHG. wolchan, and probably to G. welk withered, OHG. welc moist, Russ. & OSlav. vlaga moisture, Lith. vilgyti to moisten.
Definitions
  1. The visible regions of the air; the vault of heaven; the sky.
    On the welkne shoon the sterres lyght. Chaucer.
    The fair welkin foully overcast. Spenser.
    When storms the welkin rend. Wordsworth.
    ✍ Used adjectively by Shakespeare in the phase, "Your welkin eye," with uncertain meaning.

Webster 1913