man-keenadj.n.
/ˈmanˌkiːn/, U.S. /ˈmænˌkin/ Now English regional (northern).† B. n.
A. adj.
1. Of an animal or (rarely) a person: inclined to attack people; fierce, savage.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > bad behaviour > fierceness > [adjective]
grimlyc893
wrothc893
reighOE
grima1000
grillc1175
witherc1175
grimfula1240
sturdy1297
wild1297
fiercea1300
man-keenc1300
stoutc1300
cruelc1330
fell?c1335
wicked1375
felonousc1386
felona1400
cursedc1400
runishc1400
keen?c1425
roid?c1425
wolvishc1430
ranishc1450
malicious1485
mankind1519
mannish1530
lionish1549
truculent?c1550
lion-like1556
tigerish?1573
tiger-like1587
truculental1593
Amazonian1595
tigerous1597
feral1604
fierceful1607
efferous1614
lionly1631
tigerly1633
feroce1641
ferocious1646
asperous1650
ferousa1652
blusterous1663
wolfish1674
boarisha1718
savage-fierce1770
Tartar1809
Tartarly1821
wolfy1828
savagerous1832
hawkish1841
tigery1859
attern1868
Hunnish1915
the world > animals > by nature > [adjective] > wild or vicious
wildc725
wrothOE
keenOE
ramagec1300
fell?c1335
furiousc1374
fierce1377
ramageousa1398
eagerc1405
savage1447
naughtyc1460
criminal1477
ill1480
shrewd1509
mankind1519
roidc1540
mad1565
horn-mad1579
fierceful1607
man-keen1607
indomite1617
fellish1638
ferocious1646
ferousa1652
ferinea1676
kwaai1827
skelm1827
c1300 Childhood Jesus (Laud) 57 in C. Horstmann Altengl. Legenden (1875) 1st Ser. 4 (MED) Ne hadden huy nouȝt ful longue i fare Þat huy ne seiȝen wondres þare; Þe Bestes Mankene and eke wilde Comen out of wodes and of felde.
1568 Newe Comedie Iacob & Esau ii. ii. sig. C.jv What? are you mankene now? I recken it best I, To bind your handes behind you euen as ye lye. Esau. Nay haue mercy on me, and let me not perishe.
1607 R. C. tr. H. Estienne World of Wonders 263 He cured a man-keene wolfe..by making the signe of the crosse.
1625 T. Jackson Treat. Originall of Vnbeliefe v. vii. §3 Boares and Bulls..grow often wilde, fierce, or mankene.
1632 R. Sanderson 12 Serm. 203 (If after all that they [sc. dogs] still continue mankeen) knocke out their teeth.
1643 C. Herle Answer to Fernes Reply 6 How hard the Scripture is in yeelding any of its sincere milke for babes to these mankeene Gyants.
1740 H. Bracken Farriery Improv'd (ed. 2) II. iii. 83 If we are over-kind to them [sc. horses], it is more likely to make them Man-keen (as we say) than better conditioned.
1864 E. Lynn Linton Lake Country 181 The fields where used to be the mad man-keen bull that went raging mad if he heard the voice or step of a man.
1893 R. O. Heslop Northumberland Words Cattle are termed mankeen when they attack human beings.
2. Of a woman: strongly attracted to men; libidinous, flirtatious.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > moral evil > licentiousness > unchastity > lasciviousness or lust > [adjective] > for men
man-wood1579
man-keen1683
man-mad1904
man-crazy1923
nympho1935
man-hungry1951
man-starved1961
1683 G. Meriton York-shire Dialogue in Pure Nat. Dial. 17 Shees gane Eighteen And few but at that Age they are Man keen.
1876 F. K. Robinson Gloss. Words Whitby Fellow-fond, Man-craz'd, Man-fond, Man-keen, love smitten. ‘She's desperate man-keen’, very fond of the men.
1877 E. Peacock Gloss. Words Manley & Corringham, Lincs. 165/2 Man-keen, man-fond, libidinosa.
A savage animal. Obsolete.In quot. 1652 plural unchanged.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > by nature > [noun] > wild animal
wild deerc825
wildc1275
Satanasc1300
wild beastc1325
unbeasta1400
savage?a1425
feral1639
man-keen1652
yelper1823
wildling1841
tiger1859
rogue1872
ferine1895
wilding1897
1652 T. Elsliot True Mariner 26 Bowes, and good store of barbed Arrows invenomed, to destroy those violent Mankeen, and pestilent beasts they must expect inevitably to encounter with.
1760 R. Griffith & E. Griffith Lett. Henry & Frances (ed. 2) II. cccxxxiii. 387 I have got so far on my Journey, having bought a Horse for my Servant... It is a Mankeen in Miniature.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2000; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.n.c1300