Grimalkins are CATS that have been associated with witches and CRONES in folklore. They are believed to be the familiars of witches, and are often depicted as having a scruffy or wild appearance. In crossword puzzles, the term 'grimalkins' is usually used to refer to CATS, which is represented by the four-letter solution 'CATS', while 'CRONES' is the six-letter solution, referring to the elderly women who are often associated with these CATS.