meiny

American  

[mey-nee] / ˈmeɪ ni /

Or meinie

noun

plural

meinies

1. Archaic. a group or suite of attendants, followers, dependents, etc.

2. Scot. Archaic. a multitude; crowd.

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meiny British  

/ ˈmeɪnɪ /

noun

1. a retinue or household

2. a crowd

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Etymology

Origin of meiny

1250–1300; Middle English meynee household < Old French meyne, mesnie, mesnede < Vulgar Latin *mānsiōnāta. See mansion, -ate ¹

Example Sentences

Which is read in-the Church on Mid-lent Sunday These be the names of the children of Israel that entered into Egypt with Jacob, and each entered with their household and meiny.

From Bible Stories and Religious Classics by Wells, Philip P.

Uta, the noble dame, and all her meiny mourned bitterly the stately man.

From The Nibelungenlied by Shumway, Daniel Bussier

Helca's meiny, that aforetime waited on their mistress, passed many a happy day thereafter at Kriemhild's side.

From The Nibelungenlied by Shumway, Daniel Bussier

IX With that the smiling Kriemhild forth stepp'd a little space, And Brunhild and her meiny greeted with gentle grace.

From The Nibelungenlied Revised Edition by Unknown

Even a very young child knows that "eenty meenty meiny moe" is not real sense, though it is a pleasant string of sounds to say in a game.

From Music Talks with Children by Tapper, Thomas