meemaw

plural meemaws · alternative meema · alternative memaw

1. Southern USUSdialectalSynonym of mamaw (“grandmother”).

   “Let's celebrate with drinks at Tipsy River.” “Uh, I don't want to go to Tipsy River. I don't want to bother my meemaw while she's working.” “Let's not push it. He's embarrassed of his country-ass grandma.” “Don't be embarrassed of your meemaw, Wayne. She's fun.”

   2021 April 18, Christy Stratton & Erin Wagoner, “Hoot 'N Haw” (3:29 from the start), in Bless the Harts, season 2, episode 18, spoken by Wayne Edwards (Ike Barinholtz)

   1 more example

   “Captain, we are in orbit of Brekka.” “Dr. Migleemo, you have the conn.” “Ba-ha-ha. A feast of opportunities to make you proud, Captain.” “Keep it together, Doctor. You'll do fine.” “[sniffles] It's really happening.” “Orders, sir?” “Yes. Initiate a subspace communication link to my meema. I want her to see her special boy being the captain!” “Yes, sir.”

   2022 October 20, Ben M. Waller, “Trusted Sources” (17:12 from the start), in Star Trek: Lower Decks, season 3, episode 9, spoken by Dr. Gabers Migleemo (Paul F. Tompkins)

   Synonyms: mamaw

present singular third person meemaws · participle present meemawing · participle past meemawed · past meemawed

1. UKdialectalintransitiveTo mouth words so that they can be heard over noise (or later so that they cannot be overheard), originally in the cotton industry of Lancashire.

   Bill, who had nudged the other customer out of the shop and locked the door, meemawed at him to wait.

   2013, Nick Oldham, Critical Threat, →ISBN

   2 more examples

   On working days weavers who had jobs were already meemawing across the racket of looms as the van delivered and in hot weather, with weaving shed doors open, the sound bombarded the streets.

   2011, Ernest Dewhurst, Pennine Childhood, →ISBN

   Basically, you meemawed anything you didn't want people to overhear, even when there was no one around to listen in.

   2013, Lisa Riley, Never Judge a Book by its Cover: The Autobiography, →ISBN

plural meemaws

1. alternativeAlternative form of mee-maw.

   “Nor me noather,” replied Ben. “They'n too mony meemaws abeawt 'em for me.”

   1878, Publications - Volume 11 - Page 191

   2 more examples

   Be still, says th'chap: un then fixin his een on th' dug's, un givin his buddy some spasmoddical twitches, un jertin his neck as if his yed wur a burden to it, un he wanted t'throw it off, he begun to make aw sorts o' meemaws wi his honds.

   1860, Bobby Shuttle, James Taylor Staton, Bobby Shuttle un his Woife Sayroh's Visit to Manchester

   Indeed, the human voice could not make itself heard amidst the terrible din, and the labourers soon developed a system of signs and meemaws, whilst the foremen spoke the language of the strap.

   2010, Anne Finger, “Our Ned”, in Call Me Ahab: A Short Story Collection, →ISBN, page 156