/mi ton"euh mee/ , n. Rhet.
a figure of speech that consists of the use of the name of one object or concept for that of another to which it is related, or of which it is a part, as "scepter" for "sovereignty," or "the bottle" for "strong drink," or "count heads (or noses)" for "count people."
[ 1540-50; metonymia metonymía change of name; see MET-, -ONYM, -Y 3 ]