MINNOW

minnow, Phoxinus phoxinus

(noun) very small European freshwater fish common in gravelly streams

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

minnow (plural minnows)

A small freshwater fish of the carp family, Phoxinus phoxinus.

Any small fish.

A relatively small and insignificant person or organization.

Verb

minnow (third-person singular simple present minnows, present participle minnowing, simple past and past participle minnowed)

(fishing) To fish for minnows.

(fishing) To fish (especially for trout) using a minnow as bait.

Source: Wiktionary

Min"now, n. Etym: [OE. menow, cf. AS. myne; also OE. menuse, OF. menuise small fish; akin to E. minish, minute.] [Written also minow.]

1. (Zoöl.)

Definition: A small European fresh-water cyprinoid fish (Phoxinus lævis, formerly Leuciscus phoxinus); sometimes applied also to the young of larger kinds; -- called also minim and minny. The name is also applied to several allied American species, of the genera Phoxinus, Notropis, or Minnilus, and Rhinichthys.

2. (Zoöl.)

Definition: Any of numerous small American cyprinodont fishes of the genus Fundulus, and related genera. They live both in fresh and in salt water. Called also killifish, minny, and mummichog.mummichog

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition