minx

minx · noun, verb¹

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*ǵʰmṓ“earthling”
2. Proto-Germanic · derived from*manniskaz“human”
3. Middle Low German · derived fromminsche“hussy, wench”
4. German Low German · derived fromminsch
5. Middle Dutch · derived fromminsc
6. Dutch · derived frommens
7. English todayminx

PIE word *ǵʰmṓ The origin of the noun is uncertain. The following possible derivations have been suggested: * A variation of minikin (“(obsolete) young person, especially a young woman; small or insignificant person, thing, or amount”) + a variation of -s (suffix forming hypocoristic nouns (nicknames)) (compare minckins, a variant of minikin). * From Dutch mens, mensch (“human being, person; (derogatory, informal) woman”) (obsolete), Middle Dutch minsc, minsce, minsch; or from German Low German minsch, minsk, Middle Low German minsche (“hussy, wench”), all ultimately from Proto-Germanic *manniskaz (“human”, adjective), from *mann- (“human being, person; man”) (possibly from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰmṓ (“earthling”), *men- (“to mind; to think; spiritual activity”), or *mon- (“human being; man”)) + *-iskaz (suffix meaning ‘characteristic of, pertaining to’ forming adjectives). The verb is derived from the noun.

minx · noun²

A variant of mink.

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• 18th–19th c. Obsolete spelling of mink (“any of various semi-aquatic, carnivorous mammals in the Mustelinae subfamily”).