Page:Alexander Macbain - An Etymological Dictionary of the Gaelic Language.djvu/318

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250
ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
Ch. Slav. mąka, meal, Gr. μάσσω, knead. But mexn- would give G. menn.

mìn, soft, delicate, Ir., E. Ir. mín, W. mwyn, gentle, Cor. muin, gracilis, Br. moan, fine: *mîno-, meino-, root mei, lessen; Gr. μείων, less, μινúθω, lessen; Lat. minor, less, minister. Hence mìnich, explain. Stokes has apparently two derivations for mìn—the one above and *mêno-, allied to Gr. μανός (a long), thin.

minidh, an awl, Ir. meanadh, E. Ir. menad, W. mynawyd, Br. minaoued, M. Br. menauet: *minaveto-; Gr. σμινúη, mattock, σμίλη (ι long), chiesel.

minicionn, mid's skin; from meann and *cionn (see boicionn).

minig, minic, often, Ir. minic, O. Ir. menicc, W. mynych, Cor. menough: *menekki-s; Got. manags, many, Ger. manach, Eng. many.

minis, degree, portion (M'A.), root of mion.

ministear, a minister, Ir. mínistir; from Lat. minister, servant, whence Eng. minister.

miobhadh, ill-usage, as by weather; from mi-bhàidh.

mìobhail, unmannerly (Arg.); mi+modhail.

miodal, flattery, Ir. miodal:

miodhoir, a churl, niggard one; see miùghair.

mìog, miog, (H.S.D.), a smile, sly look, Ir. míog: *smincu-, root smi, smile, Eng. smile, Gr. μειδάω, Skr. smayate, laughs.

miolaran, low barking or whining of a fawning dog: see next word.

miolasg, flattery, fawning (as a dog), keen desire; from the root smi, smile? See míog.

mion, small, so Ir.; root min, Lat. minor, etc. Also mean, meanbh, q.v.

mionaid, a minute, Ir. minuit (dat.); from the Eng.

mionn, an oath, Ir. mionn, g. mionna, E. Ir. mind, oath, diadem; the mind was the "swearing reliques" of a saint, O. Ir. mind, a diadem, insignia, O. W. minn, sertum: *menni-; cf. O. H. G. menni, neck ornament, Ag. S. mene, neck chain, Lat. monile. See muineal further. Stokes gives the stem as *mindi-, but no etymology. Windisch (Rev.Celt.5) equates minn with Lat. mundus, ornament, world.

miontan, a titmouse, Ir. miontán; from mion, small, *minu-, Lat. minor, etc., as under mín.

mìorbhuil, a miracle, Ir. míorbhuil, E. Ir. mírbail; from Lat. mīrabile, Eng. marvel.

miortal, myrtal, Ir. miortal (Fol.); from the English. W. has myrtwydd, myrtle trees.