milt2 (milt)

[A corruption of milk, in this sense appar. of Scand. origin: tive organ of a fish; the spermatic organ and its secretion; the soft roe, corresponding to the roe or spawn of the female. Sometimes melt. You shall scarce or never take a male carp without a melt , or a female without a roe or spawn. I. Walton , Complete Angler (ed. 1653), p. 162. milt2 (milt), v . t. [ milter (prob. milcher ; as milt2 + -er1.] That which has or sheds milt; a male fish in breeding-time. Also melter . For the purpose of breeding he had, as the rule is, put in [a pond] three melters for one spawner. I. Walton , Complete Angler (ed. 1875), p. 143. Milton i an (mil-to'ni-an), a. [ Milton (see def.) + -ian .] Of or relating to the great English poet John Milton (1608-74), or resembling his style. Merely a Milton i an way of saying.. that moral no le than physical courage demanded a sound body. Lowell , Among my Books, 2d ser., p. 267. Miltonic (mil-ton'ik), a. [ Milton (see Mil tonian) +-ic.] Relating or pertaining to Milton or his works; Milton i an. If Time, the Avenger, execrates his wrongs, And makes the word Miltonic mean “sublime." Byron, Don Juan, Ded., st. 10.