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.
Minnie, -y, n. Also: mynnie, -y(e. [Also north. e.m.E. minnie (1600). Of obscure origin, possibly orig. f. infant utterances or in baby talk. In the mod. dial. Sc. and north. Eng.] A familiar term for mother.Perh. orig., as in the Ferg. Prov. MS. quot., one used in baby language, or, as in the Lynd. Sat. and Sat. P. quots., as a child's term.(1) c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxv. 16.
Sen that I borne wes of my mynnye 1681 Colvil Whig's Suppl. ii. 63.
All the account that I can give on't Is that my minnie hath the lave on't 16.. Maidment New Bk. Old Ballads 13.
Fatt ails thee at my dade, quoth he, My minny or my aunty?(2) 1540 Lynd. Sat. 1300 (B).
‘Mynny, how, mynny, mynny [Ch. mynnie]’. ‘Quhat wold thow, my deir dochter Jenny? Jenney my joe, quhat dois thy daddy?’ 1572 Sat. P. xxxiii. 137.
Be gude lord Deddy; … For lady Minnie; … Happy is he hes sic ane governand [sc. the Earl and Countess of Mar, James VI's guardians] a1598 Ferg. Prov. MS. No. 1513.
Wow dey, minnie wold mird
b. Minnies mouthes, ‘those who must be wheedled into any measure by kindness, coaxing, etc.’ (A. Warrack A Scots Dialect Dictionary, Chambers, 1911, s.v.). Minnies bairns, ‘mother's pets’ (as in the mod. dial.).1622 Scot Course of Conformity 93.
The … promises … often used … are … engyred finely for soupling such with sueetnes as they take to be minnies mouthes ?1661-5 M. Bruce Soul-Confirmation (1709) 8.
They have a face for godlie folk, and they have a face for persecutors of godlie folk, and they will be daddies bairns and minnies bairns both
