v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Welked p. pr. & vb. n. Welking. ] [ OE. welken; cf. D. & G. welken to wither, G. welk withered, OHG. welc moist. See Welkin, and cf. Wilt. ] To wither; to fade; also, to decay; to decline; to wane. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

When ruddy Ph&unr_;bus 'gins to welk in west. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

The church, that before by insensible degrees welked and impaired, now with large steps went down hill decaying. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ 1913 Webster ]

1. To cause to wither; to wilt. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Mot thy welked neck be to-broke [ broken ]. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To contract; to shorten. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Now sad winter welked hath the day. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To soak; also, to beat severely. [ Prov. Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A pustule. See 2d Whelk. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) A whelk. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. See Whelked. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ 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. ] The visible regions of the air; the vault of heaven; the sky. [ 1913 Webster ]

On the welkne shoon the sterres lyght. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

The fair welkin foully overcast. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

When storms the welkin rend. Wordsworth. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Used adjectively by Shakespeare in the phase, “Your welkin eye, ” with uncertain meaning. [ 1913 Webster ]