English

Alternative forms

• speelken, spelken

Noun

spellken ‎(plural spellkens)

1. (obsolete, slang) A theatre.
   • 1823, Lord Byron, Don Juan, Canto the Eleventh, Stanza XIX:

     He from the world had cut off a great man, / Who in his time had made heroic bustle. / Who in a row like Tom could lead the van, / Booze in the ken, or at the spellken hustle? / Who queer a flat? Who (spite of Bow Street's ban) / On the high toby-spice so flash the muzzle? / Who on a lark, with black-eyed Sal (his blowing), / So prime, so swell, so nutty, and so knowing?