minnow

[ min-oh ]

/ ˈmɪn oʊ /

a small, European cyprinoid fish, Phoxinus phoxinus.

any other fish of the family Cyprinidae, including the carps, goldfishes, and daces.

any of various unrelated, small fishes.

a person or thing that is comparatively small or insignificant.

Origin of minnow

1325–75; Middle English minwe, Old English *mynwe (feminine) for myne (masculine); cognate with Old High German munewa kind of fish

minnesotan, minnetonka, minnewit, minni, minnie, minnow, minny, minoan, minocycline, minogue, minor

"They are using a whale to catch a minnow," said defense attorney Charles Swift.

The Next U.S-Pakistan Headache |ProPublica |May 22, 2011 |DAILY BEAST
“They are using a whale to catch a minnow,” said defense attorney Charles Swift.

The Next U.S-Pakistan Headache |ProPublica |May 22, 2011 |DAILY BEAST
When the tide comes in he comes close inshore and burrows down into the sand to wait till a minnow floats by.

Boy Scouts in Southern Waters |G. Harvey Ralphson
I have only fished myself three or four times, and I am confident I hooked a minnow yesterday.'

When a Man's Single |J. M. Barrie

On the other hand, with the horizontal cast the minnow is projected to the desired spot with very little disturbance.

Favorite Fish and Fishing |James Alexander Henshall
Near the beach, in shallow water, a boy of twelve and a girl of sixteen were struggling with a minnow net.

Green Eyes |Roy J. Snell
I've got a half a mile o' trout line, a minnow hook and a plate full o' vermicelli.

Mollie and the Unwiseman Abroad |John Kendrick Bangs

minnow

/ (ˈmɪnəʊ) /

a small slender European freshwater cyprinid fish, Phoxinus phoxinus

any other small cyprinid

angling a spinning lure imitating a minnow

a small or insignificant person

C15: related to Old English myne minnow; compare Old High German muniwa fish