Obs. Also 5 wylkyn, wilken, 6 wellkyn, 7 welkyn, wilking. [? orig. a proper name, perh. of Du. or LG. origin.] A ram; a pile driving engine.
1495. Naval Acc. Hen. VII. (1896), 156. Rammes of Yron called Wylkyns … j. Ibid. (1497), 91. Wilken Rammers of Iren … ij. Ibid., 94. Wilken ramme of iren … j.
1580. in P. Thompson, Hist. Boston (1856), 310. Lord Clynton to borrow the wellkyn of brasse of this Corporation for his necessarie, according to his desire. Ibid. (1657). A great brasse welkyn belonging to the borough, being now no longer useful to this borough, to be sold. Ibid. (1694). 10l. paid to John Sherlock to buy a wilking with at Nottingham. [Ibid. (1804), note. applied to a pile-driving apparatus.]
