/min"oh/ , n. , pl. ( esp. referring to two or more kinds or species ) minnows , ( esp. collectively, Rare ) minnow for 1, 2, 3.
1. a small, European cyprinoid fish, Phoxinus phoxinus.
2. any other fish of the family Cyprinidae, including the carps, goldfishes, and daces.
3. any of various unrelated, small fishes.
4. a person or thing that is comparatively small or insignificant.
[ 1325-75; ME minwe, OE * mynwe (fem.) for myne (masc.); c. OHG munewa kind of fish ]