minnock

English

Eurasian minnocks (Phoxinus phoxinus)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈmɪnək/, /ˈmɪnɪk/

Etymology 1

From Middle English *minok, from Old English *mynoc, *mynuc, diminutive of myne (“minnow”), equivalent to minnow +‎ -ock (diminutive suffix). Cognate with Scots minnock (“minnow”).

Noun

minnock (plural minnocks)

1. (dialectal) The minnow (genus Leuciscus or Phoxinus)

Etymology 2

From Middle English *minnok, diminutive formed from Middle English min, minne (“small, lesser, lower”), from Old English min (“small”) and Old Norse minni (“lesser, smaller”). Equivalent to min +‎ -ock (diminutive suffix).

Alternative forms

• minnik

Noun

minnock (plural minnocks)

1. (dialectal) One who acts or speaks with affected nicety; a suck-up.

Verb

minnock (third-person singular simple present minnocks, present participle minnocking, simple past and past participle minnocked)

1. (dialectal) To act or speak with affected niceness.
2. (dialectal) To imitate or mimic the behaviour of one's superiors; to ape.
3. (dialectal) To fool or monkey around.