Etymology: < Anglo-Norman mortekine, morticine and Middle French morticine carrion (1160 in Old French; in Anglo-Norman also as adjective) < post-classical Latin morticinum carrion (Vetus Latina), use as noun of neuter of classical Latin morticīnus (of an animal) that has died a natural death, probably < mort- , mors death (see mort n.¹) + -cīnus (in porcīnus porcine adj., hircīnus hircine adj., etc.; compare -ine suffix¹). Compare also Spanish mortecino , adjective (end of 10th cent.), Catalan mortehí , adjective, Italian morticina , noun, morticino , adjective (both end of 13th cent.). With sense 2 compare Italian lana morticina wool of dead animals (14th cent.).English and Anglo-Norman forms in -k- perhaps show influence of -kin suffix; compare morling n. Perhaps compare also Old English myrten carrion, (as adjective: of an animal that has not been slaughtered) dead.

Etymology: < Middle Low German morken, mȫrken, moerken, moirken < Mōr Moor n.² (with reference to the blackness of the coin) + -ken (see -kin suffix). Compare Middle High German mörche, Middle Dutch moorkijn, morkijn, Middle French mourequin (late 15th cent.), post-classical Latin morikinus (1360). The coin was also known as a hohlringheller.