■ noun
1》 a small freshwater fish of the carp family, which typically forms large shoals. [ Phoxinus phoxinus .]
↘used in names of similar fishes, e.g. mud~ .
↘ Fishing an artificial lure imitating a ~.
2》 a small or unimportant person or organization.
Origin
ME: prob. related to Du. meun and Ger. Münne , influenced by Anglo-Norman Fr. menu 'small, ~'.