1833. Marryat, Peter Simple, 1. p. 56. 'Clap on here Peg,' cried the woman to another, 'and lets have this little midshipmite, I wants a baby to dry nurse.'
1877. W. S. Gilbert, Bab Ballads, 'Yarn of the Nancy Bell.' A bosun tight and a midshipmite.
Miff, subs. (old).—A petty quarrel;
a tantrum.
1623. Butler, Feminine Monarchy, c. 5. Fol. l. 4. Your remedy is to knocke out the bees upon the mantle between two single Rests, and to set a fitter Hive over them; but this is not to be done before the swarming hours be fast, lest some of the bees take a miff.
1749. Fielding, Tom Jones, Bk. III. ch. vi. When a little quarrel, or miff, as it is vulgarly called, arose between them.
1768. Goldsmith, Good-Natured Man, iv. It's the worst luck in the world, in anything but white. I knew one Bett Stubbs, of our town, that was married in red; and, as sure as eggs is eggs, the bridegroom and she had a miff before morning.
1816. Scott, Antiquary, v. In accomplishing an arrangement between tendencies so opposite, little miffs would occasionally take place.
Verb. (old).—1. To offend; and (2) to fall out.
Adj. (old).—Angered; miffed.
1802. W. Taylor, in Robberds's Memoir, i. 447. You are right about Burnett, but being miff with him myself, I would not plead against him in the least particular.
1825. Scott, Diary, in Life, viii. 133. This is not the way to make her pluck a bawbee and Lord M—, a little miffed in turn sends the whole correspondence to me.
Miff-maff, subs. (provincial).—Nonsense;
rot (q.v.).
Miffy, subs. (common).—The devil;
old scratch (q.v.).
Mifty, adv. (old).—See quot. Cf.
Miff.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. Mifty, apt to take Pet, or be out of Humour.
Mighty (or Mightily), adj. and adv.
(colloquial).—See quot. 1755.
Also mightily.
1596. Shakspeare, Merry Wives, iii. 3. 221. You do yourself mighty wrong, Master Ford.
1609. Fletcher, Wild-Goose Chase, iv. 2. This is some mighty dairy-maid in man's clothes.
1668. Pepys, Diary, 26 Sept. To my house, where D. Gauden did talk a little, and he do mightily acknowledge my kindness to him.
1693. Congreve, Old Bachelor, i. 1. Your son's mighty like his Grace, has just his smile and air of's face.
1695. Congreve, Love for Love, iii. 4. Scan. Your lady says your sleep has been unquiet of late. . . . Mrs. Fore. O mighty restless.
1712. Steele, Spectator, No. 438. This gentleman deals mightily in what we call the irony.
d. 1721. Prior, in Wks. [quoted in Ency. Dict.]. He reigns: How long? Till some usurper rise, And he too mighty thoughtful, mighty wise: Studies new lines.
1738. Pope, Epilogue to Sat., ii. 133. But let me add, Sir Robert's mighty dull.
1755. Johnson, Eng. Dict., s.v. Mighty. In a great degree. Not to be used but in very low language.
1775. Sheridan, The Rivals, iv. 3. There is a probability of succeeding about that fellow that is mighty provoking.
1780. Chastellux, Travels in N. Am., ii. 14. On my asking him the next morning how he found himself, he answered, mighty weak. Ibid. [Note by translator]. Mighty little, mighty few, mighty weak, &c., are favorite expressions in America.
1793. Ld. H. Spencer, in Auckland Correspondence, III. 83 (1862). Madame Bosset is arrived, and mighty plain.
1793. Burns, Impromptu on Mrs. 's Birthday. Now, Jove, for once be mighty civil.
