mini

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈmɪn.i/^[1]

Etymology

It is a shortening of minicar, or from the prefix mini-,^[2][3][4] itself from miniature, reinforced by minimum.^[5][6] The adjective is partly a shortening of miniature.^[4][6]

Earliest recorded meaning

A small car: 1961 in the OED and Etymonline, 1962 in Barnhart.^[3][2][4] Etymonline ties it to the mini-car made by the British Motor Corporation.^[2]

Semantic evolution

The adjective, very small, is from 1963.^[3][4] As a shortening of miniskirt the noun is from 1966.^[2][3][4] A minicomputer is from the late 20th century.^[6]

Timeline

• 1961 – a small car.^[3][2]
• 1963 – adjective, very small.^[3][4]
• 1966 – a miniskirt.^[3][2]

Modern meaning

Noun

1. Something much smaller than others of its kind.
2. A miniskirt.
3. A small car.

Adjective

1. Very small, miniature.

Word family

• mini-
• micromini

Related words

• miniature
• minimum
• minor
• miniskirt

References

1. ^ Jones, Daniel (2011), Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary, 18th ed., ed. Peter Roach, Jane Setter and John Esling, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
2. ^ a b c d e f Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
3. ^ a b c d e f g Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
4. ^ a b c d e f Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
5. ^ Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ a b c Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles (2002), 5th ed., ed. William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, Oxford: Oxford University Press