Miko: annotations

Generally, a religious place of seclusion. In this case, a nun's convent.

fertile

angry or violent noise

side by side

The frame of a window that swings open. In this case it more generally means the window itself.

One who deceives through trickery.

a caterpillar that eats and destroys blossoms

caterpillars

A shortening of “by Our Lady”. “Lakin” is a contraction of “lady” and the suffix “-kin”. The “-kin” suffix is of obscure origin, and it is not always clear why it was used. It was usually, but not always, used as a diminutive, much like in modern English we might use “-y” to make diminutives such as “Bobby” or “doggy”. The practice has died out. However, a few words have survived, such as “pumpkin”, which is a contraction of “pumpion” and the “-kin” suffix.

A buskin was a boot that went up to at least the calf.