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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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

MINNON, n. Also min-, men(n)-; -in, -en, -an; -e(n)t; reduced dim. forms minnie (Bwk. a.1862 Whistle Binkie (1890) II. 248), ¶minnock (Lnk. 1859 J. Parker Poems 33); mintie (Rxb. a.1838 Jam. MSS. X. 201). The minnow, Phoxinus phoxinus (Per., Fif., Lth., Ayr. 1915–26 Wilson). Gen.(exc.I.)Sc.; also applied more gen. to any similar small freshwater fish; an angler's artificial minnow. Freq. used attrib. Deriv. mennen-hood. For baggie-mennen, see Baggie, n.³, 2. [′mɪnən, ′mɛnən(t)]Sc. 1725 Ramsay Gentle Shep. iii. iii.:
The Saugh-trees shades the Menin-pool.Abd. 1775 Aberdeen Jnl. (10 April):
Also artificial Minnin, single and double Box Swivels.Rnf. 1807 R. Tannahill Poems (1900) 138:
He kent a creatures, clute an tail, . . . Up frae the mennon to the whale.Kcb. 1815 J. Gerrond Poems 114:
Minnons, pars, and eels he stabbit Nieved aneth brow and stane.Rxb. 1817 J. Barrie Poems 66:
Where trouts and menents sport and loup.Sc. 1827 R. Chambers Picture Scot. I. 175:
The rogue will remember having been nearly hooked last year in the days of his mennen-hood, and may therefore look before he leaps.Bwk. 1897 R. Calder Poems 63:
We sought the heather-lintie's nest Or gump'd for mennents in the pool.Fif. 1946 J. C. Forgan Maistly 'Muchty 10:
I'd gang doon by the Plains an' for goldies I'd fish, In yon deep minnen ditch I weel ken.