We use cookies to enhance your experience on our website. By clicking 'continue' or by continuing to use our website, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. You can change your cookie settings in your browser at any time.

Continue
Find out more

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

MEYREKEN, n. Also merekin. A young girl (Sc. 1764 Hailes in Notes and Queries (Feb. 1954) 64).Sc. 1776 Hailes Annals Scot. I. 318:
Within our own memory, in Scotland, the word merekin was used for a girl, in the same sense as the Greek μειράκιον.

[Only attested by Hailes. Orig. uncertain. If genuine, phs. a variant or misapprehension of ‡Eng. minikin, a pet name for a girl, a lass.]

18519

snd