churn-milk Now chiefly dial.
(ˈtʃɜːnmɪlk)
[cf. Ger. dial. kirn-, kernmilch, Du. kernemelk, LG. karnmelk, karmelk. Icel. kjarna-mjólk.]
Butter-milk, the acidulous milk which remains after the butter has been separated.
| 1598 Hakluyt Voy. I. 97 The churnmilke which remaineth of the butter. 1599 A. M. tr. Gabelhouer's Bk. Physicke 267/2 We may give it charne or Buttermilcke. 1628 Earle Microcosm. Upstart Knt. (Arb.) 38 His face beares still a relish of Churne-milke. 1867 Waugh Our Blanket iii. 76 A mug-full o' churn-milk. 1879 Suppl. Voc. E. Anglia (E.D.S.), Churn-milk. |
b. attrib. in fig. sense.
| 1590 Greene, Never Too Late Wks. (Grosart) VIII. 195 You that stand vpon the beauty of your churnmilke face. |