1665. R. Head, English Rogue, Pt. I. ch. v. (Repr. 1874), p. 50. Milken, one that breaks houses.
1669. Nicker Nicked, in Harl. Misc. (ed. Park), ii. 108. Mill-ken [in list of names of thieves].
1724. E. Coles, Eng. Dict. Milken, a house breaker.
1725. Old Ballad (in New Cant. Dict.), 'The Twenty Craftsmen.' The fourth was a mill-ken, to crack up a door, He'd venture to rob both the rich and the poor.
1754. Fielding, Jonathan Wild, bk. I. ch. v. The same capacity which qualifies a mill-ken, a bridle-cull, or a buttock-and-file to arrive at any degree of eminence in his profession would likewise raise a man in what the world esteem a more honourable calling.
1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, s.v.
Milling, subs. (common).—1. A
beating. Also fighting.
1810. Combe, Dr. Syntax, ii. 2. One blood gives t'other a milling.
1819. Moore, Tom Crib, iv. The champion of England stands unrivalled for his punishment, game, and milling on the retreat.
1841. Mrs. Gore, Cecil, 158. Put myself in a Cribb-like attitude for a milling-match.
2. (old).—Stealing.
Milling in the darkmans, subs. phr. (Old Cant).—Murder by night. See Mill, verb. 1.
1815. Scott, Guy Mannering, xxviii. Men were men then, and fought each other in the open field, and there was nae milling in the darkmans.
Milling-cove, subs. phr. (pugilists').—A
pugilist.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Milling Cove. How the milling cove served the cull out; how the boxer beat the fellow.
1819. Vaux, Memoirs, s.v.
1834. W. H. Ainsworth, Rookwood, p. 250 (ed. 1864). Zoroaster, who was not merely a worshipper of fire, but a thorough milling-cove, had engaged to some purpose in a pugilistic encounter with the rustics.
Mill-round, subs. (common).—Routine:
see go through the
mill, sense 2.
1892. M. E. Braddon, Gerard, p. 4. 'What have you been doing with yourself?' 'Nothing beyond the usual mill-round.'
Millstone. To see (or look) through a mill-stone (or brick wall), verb. phr. (common).—To be well-informed; to judge with precision; to be quick of perception.
1582. Lyly, Euphues and His England [Nares]. Then, Fidus, since your eies are so sharp that you cannot onely looke through a milstone, but cleane through the minde, and so cunning that you can levell at the dispositions of women whom you never knew.
1767. Ray, Proverbs [Bohn (1893), 171], s.v.
1782. Mrs. Centlivre, Bold Stroke for a Wife, iii. 1. I'm sorry such a well-invented tale should do you no more service. We old fellows can see as far into a millstone as them that pick it.
To weep millstones, verb. phr. (old).—Said of a person not likely to cry.
1597. Shakspeare, Rich. III, i. 3. Your eyes drop mill-stones when fools' eyes drop tears. Ibid. i. 6. Cl. Bid Glo'ster think on this, and he will weep. 1 M. Aye, mill-stones, as he lesson'd us to weep.
1607. Cæsar & Pompey [Nares]. He, good gentleman, Will weep when he hears how we are used. 1 Serj. Yes, mill-stones.
To run one's head against a millstone (milestone, or brick wall), verb. phr. (com-
