A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1490-1679
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Minȝ(e)o(u)n, Minio(u)n, Mi(n)gnon, Munȝ(e)o(u)n(e, n. Also: minyeon, mynȝ(e)o(u)n(e, minione, mynioun; mingeoun, myngnon; migneone; minnon, mynon; mo(y)nȝeo(u)n; menyon. [F. mignon, e.m.E. minion (a 1548), minyon (1548), mynnyon (1547), mineon, mignion (1639).] A minion. Chiefly applied to men.
1. An exquisite, a dainty, fastidious, effemmate creature.1490 Irland Mir. fol. 341 b.
The noblis of oure tyme are mynȝeouns & diligat; thai mone be nurist of the … maist piesand metis and diligat drinkis and ly and sleip soft; without a mynȝeoune lady thai can nocht lif
2. a. A woman's favourite, ‘pet’, darling, gallant, lover.c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxv. 52.
Quod scho … ‘My chirrie and my maikles munȝoun [: vnȝoun]’ c1550 Lynd. Meldrum 234.
He was ane munȝeon for ane dame Meik in chalmer lyk ane lame a1568 Scott v. 57.
In May gois madynis till Lareit, And hes thair mynȝonis on the streit To hors thame quhair the gait is ruch
b. A man's friend or comrade.c1550 Rolland Court of Venus i. 194.
Mynȝeoun, quhairfoir do ȝe sustene Sic displeasure c1550 Ib. iv. 424.
Humblie prayand … For to grant grace and life to thy munȝeoun [: opinioun]
3. A prince's or great man's favourite.Chiefly opprobriously: One who owes everything to his patron's favour, a ‘hanger-on’, a ‘creature’.(a) 1490 Irland Mir. fol. 332.
Euill and fals men … thai mak tendir and mynȝeouns to him 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. iii. 538.
The kingis minȝeoun roundand in his eir Hecht Veritie 1531 Bell. Boece I. 32.
Thay corruppit rutouris, his minions 1533 Boece i. ii. 58.
Than we mon … sustene his familie and his vthir mynȝeons 1533 Ib. ii. ix. 74 b.
Thereus … warying his familiaris & mynȝons 1558-66 Knox I. 67. 1568 Hosack Mary Q. of Scots 540.
Sa directlie tweching the Erle Boithuile hir cheif mynioun 1622 Lett. Eccl. Affairs II. 699.c1650 Spalding II. 209. 1664 Nicoll Diary 407.
The Erle of Middiltoun … a great minyeon with the Kinges majestie(b) c1610 Melville Mem. 5.
The false fetchis of sic mingnons c1610 Ib. 360.
A gud k[ing] hes bene abused and led be myngnons that he lyked weall of 1628 Pastor and Prelate 50.
Their evill favoured mingeounis(c) c1590 J. Stewart 227. § 110.
Curssit vyce … Quha seruing hir haid mignons mo in stoir Than [etc.] c1590 Fowler II. 114/9.
On thame quha ar his mignons and favorites 1611 3rd Rep. Hist. MSS. App. 412/2.
[The] Duke of Lun the Kings migneone(d) 1582 Moysie 40.
Being ane of the Kingis cheife mynonis(e) a1538 Abell 98 a.
Johne Spenseir the Kingis munȝone(f) 1558-66 Knox I. 84.
Oliver, the great moynȝeoun, should be generall levetenant 1558-66 Ib. II. 367.
Amongis the monȝeonis of the courte thair was one named Monsieur Chattelett 1540 Lynd. Sat. 264 (Ch.).
Send ȝe for Sandie Solace Or ells ȝour monȝeoun [B. mynȝeoun] Wantonnes(g) 1679 J. Somerville Mem. I. 376.
Both menyons and gentlemen
4. A species of small cannon. Also double mynioun [see Double a. 3 (4)] and comb. and attrib.(1) 1572-5 Diurnal of Occurrents 300.
With ane cannoune and ane double mynioun with the quhilk thaj peircit the wallis 1627 Stirling's Royal Lett. I. 115.
To buy for the vse of tuo schippes … 16 minnon, 4 saker and 6 falcon 1666-74 Fraser Polichron. 374.
2 demi-culverins, 2 minions, two falcons [etc.](2) 1643 Acts VI. i. 9/2.
These … six minion brase gun with the tuo feild peices agreid wpon 1661 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. I. 18.
[To deliver to him] tuo minione cutts [each about seven hundredweight], tuo saiker and tuo minion gunns of iron(3) 1641-8 Skipper's Acc. (Smettone) 19 b.
For ane hunder & 50 minione shot 13 li. 11 s.
