mimp

plural mimps

1. A pursing of the lips.

   The Paphian mimp was a certain pucker of the lips considered needful for the highly genteel.

   1948, Gil Meynier, Stranger at the Door, page 12

   2 more examples

   Sure you muſt have obſerved the drop of the under lip is exploded ſince Lady Simpermode broke a tooth—(Sets her mouth affectedly)—I am preparing the caſt of the lips for the enſuing winter—thus—It is to be call’d the Paphian mimp.

   1786, John Burgoyne, The Heiress. A Comedy in Five Acts, page 37

   My working hunch was that the very young leopard frog tadpole would make a near-perfect donor. […] While he’s little, he’ll mimp-mouth algae from the flanks of a tubifex and harm nothing but a little vermigrade pride.

   1973, Barry N. Schwartz, Human Connection and the New Media, page 170

present singular third person mimps · participle present mimping · participle past mimped · past mimped

1. To purse one’s lips.

   By God, I c’n hear him, see him, too. Put on that pious look, mimp up his lips.

   1939, Bruce Lancaster, Guns of Burgoyne, page 160

   2 more examples

   The Beaux alter’d Creatures, Now mimp up their Features, And trip it, and trip it ſo pretty; […]

   1755, H. Woodward, The Comic Tunes and Songs in the Entertainment Call’d Proteus, or Harlequin in China

   When firſt ſhe emerged from retirement, it was natural ſhe ſhould feel ſhy and embarraſſed, which always appeared by a certain mimping with her mouth; afterwards ſhe thought it becoming , and improved upon it: It was ſo univerſally adopted by the young Ladies of the ton, that I think it incumbent on myſelf to give a particular account of this grace for the benefit of thoſe who have no opportunities of ſeeing it practiſed.

   1788, Elizabeth Hervey, Melissa and Marcia; or the Sisters: a novel, volume 1, pages 61–62

2. To act in an affectedly prim or dainty manner.