minx
English · Thesaurus
AI In plain words
Writing a short explanation…
Written by a house AI from the entry below, in your language. The entry itself is the source.
minx¹
- /mɪŋks/ US, UK
Sounds like minks · Rhymes with -ɪŋks
Where it comes from
PIE word
*ǵʰmṓ
The origin of the noun is uncertain. The following possible derivations have been suggested:
* A variation of minikin (“(obsolete) young person, especially a young woman; small or insignificant person, thing, or amount”) + a variation of -s (suffix forming hypocoristic nouns (nicknames)) (compare minckins, a variant of minikin).
* From Dutch mens, mensch (“human being, person; (derogatory, informal) woman”) (obsolete), Middle Dutch minsc, minsce, minsch; or from German Low German minsch, minsk, Middle Low German minsche (“hussy, wench”), all ultimately from Proto-Germanic *manniskaz (“human”, adjective), from *mann- (“human being, person; man”) (possibly from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰmṓ (“earthling”), *men- (“to mind; to think; spiritual activity”), or *mon- (“human being; man”)) + *-iskaz (suffix meaning ‘characteristic of, pertaining to’ forming adjectives).
The verb is derived from the noun.
noun minxes
- A flirtatious, impudent, or pert young woman. In an other corner, Mistris Minx, a marchants wife, that will eate no cherries, forsooth, but when they are at twentie shillings a pound, that lookes as simperingly as if she were besmeard, and iets it as gingerly as if she were dancing the canaries, […]
-
A promiscuous woman; also, a mistress (“the other woman in an extramarital relationship”) or a prostitute.
Well, yet at length the houre came that flattered him with grace, / Who all too haſtie hide him ſelfe to his appointed place. / Arrived there, a pretie minx (directed wel before) / Unto a lodging brought this lord, and locked faſt the dore. / When he was ſafe, awaye ſhe went, for joy Alberto hopt, /
Similar: bit on the side, concubine, doxy, dulcinea, goomah, leman, loon, minx, mistress, number two, side bitch, side chick
- A pet dog. And of doggues there ben diuerſe ſortes mo then one: For ther be hariers, or buckhoundes, there by ſpanyels made to the hawke, or for taking of foule, ther be ſhepeherdes curres, there are tye dogges or maſtifes for keepinge of houſes, there ben litle minxes, or pupees that ladies keepe in their cha
verb minxes · minxing · minxed
-
Used transitively when followed by it: to behave like a minx, that is, in a flirtatious and impudent manner.
[He] knows the dress of every girl he meets— / In fact could cut you out the very plan, / Each article could name, and tell you every shade, / Whether adorning minxing miss or ancient maid!
Similar: blissom, chamber, colt, gill, harlot, harlotize, minx, rake, rig, slut, trollop, wanton
- To make (someone) like a minx; (intransitive) to become like a minx. Whether you're sipping fine bubbly from a crystal flute while having your nails minxed, or soaking in a heavenly milk bath, a visit to Miss Fox is your ticket to forget your worries and simply indulge.
minx²
- /mɪŋks/ US, UK
Sounds like minks · Rhymes with -ɪŋks
Where it comes from
A variant of mink.
noun minxes
-
Obsolete spelling of mink (“any of various semi-aquatic, carnivorous mammals in the Mustelinae subfamily”).
The Minx […] frequents the water like the Otter, and very much reſembles it in ſhape and color, but is leſs; will abide longer under the water than the muſk quaſh, muſk rat, or little beaver: […]
Similar: minx otter
Translations
Every language
noun flirtatious, impudent, or pert young woman
| Español | petisuis |
|---|---|
| 日本語 | お侠 okyan |
| Português | coquete, interesseira, sirigaita |
| Français | pimbêche |
| Italiano | civetta |
| Русский | дерзкая девчо́нка derzkaja devčónka, прока́зница prokáznica, распу́тница raspútnica, шалу́нья šalúnʹja |
Talk about this word "minx." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/minx. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. minx. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/minx "minx." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/minx.Cite this
@misc{minx_2026,
title = {minx},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/minx},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
