minion

The story

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*men-“to think”
2. Proto-Germanic · derived from*minjō“affectionate thought, care”
3. Frankish · derived from*minnju“love, friendship, affection, memory”
4. Old French · derived frommignon“dainty, pleasing, gentle, kind”
5. Middle French · borrowed frommignon“lover, royal favourite, darling”
6. English todayminion

First use appears c. 1490, from Middle French mignon (“lover, royal favourite, darling”), from Old French mignon (“dainty, pleasing, gentle, kind”), from Frankish *minnju (“love, friendship, affection, memory”), from Proto-Germanic *minjō (“affectionate thought, care”), from Proto-Indo-European *men- (“to think”). Doublet of mignon.

Words from the same roots