minnow Meaning, Definition & Usage

noun very small European freshwater fish common in gravelly streams
Phoxinus phoxinus.

OE. menow, cf. AS. myne; also OE. menuse, OF. menuise small fish; akin to E. minish, minute.

(Zoöl.) 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.
(Zoöl.) 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. see mummichog