*
• MEN
n. 1990s – a homosexual → W. Indies
• MENACE
n. 1936 – a person that is a bore or a general nuisance; someone or something very troublesome or annoying; an unpleasant, irritating person → sl.
• MENAGE
n. 1865 – a domestic establishment; household management → Sc.
• MENAGERIE
n. 1. 1845 – the orchestra → Brit. theatrical sl.
n. 2. 1905 – a collection of odds and ends; a mixed assembly; a confused state of things; a litter → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
• MENAGERY
n. 1. 1633 – domestic or agricultural administration or economy → obs.
n. 2. 1646 – cunning or adroit management; an instance of this → obs.
n. 3. 1685 – horsemanship; a place of exercise for horses → obs.
n. 4. 1905 – an implement → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
• MENALTY
n. 1548 – the middle class of society
• MENAVELINGS
n. 1. 1865 – odd money remaining after the daily accounts are made up at railway offices → Brit. railway clerk’s usage
n. 2. 1865 – small matters, odds and ends; articles supplementary to the ordinary fare → sl.
• MENAVELINS
n. 1863 – odd money in the daily accounts → Brit. railway clerks’ usage
• MENCH
n. 1980 – a mention → sl.
vb. 1910 – to mention → sl.
• MEND
n. 1905 – a patch, repair → Sc. (Bk.)
vb. 1. 1870 – to produce (e.g. a story) better than somebody else → Brit. colloq.
vb. 2. M19 – to bandage → Brit. colloq.
vb. 3. 1884 – to tend or add fuel to a fire → Amer. dial.
vb. 4. 1905 – to grow stout → Ireland (Bk.)
• MENDACILOQUENT
adj. 1656 – speaking lies; lying → obs.
• MEND AS SOUR ALE MENDS IN SUMMER
vb. 1540 – to become worse → Brit. colloq.
• MENDATION
n. 1844 – amendment, improvement → Eng. dial.
• MENDED
adj. L19 – bandaged → sl.
• MENDEN!
int. 1893 – a disguised oath → Eng. dial.
• MENDIC
adj. 1925 – sick, ill → Aust. sl.
• MENDICIARY
adj. 1652 – appropriate to beggars → obs.
• MENDIL
n. 1662 – a turban
• MENDING
n. 1860 – something to be repaired → Brit. nautical usage
• MENDING THE MUCK-HEAP
n. 1905 – a vulgar romp → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
• MEND LIKE SOUR ALE IN SUMMER
vb.1738 – to get worse instead of getting better; also said of a wicked profligate who gives no hope of reformation → obs. exc. Eng. dial.
• MENDMENT
n. 1. 1798 – manure → Eng. dial.
n. 2. 1905 – amendment, improvement → Sc. (Bk.)
• MEND ONE’S DRAUGHT
vb. 1875 – to drink again, to take another glass → Eng. dial.
• MEND ONE’S GAIT
vb. 1899 – to quicken one’s steps; to move or travel faster → Amer. dial.
• MEND ONE’S LICKS
vb. 1864 – to go faster; to quicken one’s steps → Amer. dial.
• MEND ONE’S SPEED
vb. 1843 – to quicken one’s steps; to accelerate one’s progress → Sc.
• MENDS
n. 1. 1641 – amends, reparation, recompense, satisfaction, revenge; atonement → Sc. & Eng. dial.
n. 2. 1721 – improvement, cure; amelioration of conduct, health, etc. → Sc. & Eng. dial.
• MEND YOUR OWN SHOES
phr. 1967 – mind your own business → Amer. dial.
• MENG
vb. 1677 – to mix, to mingle, to blend → Sc. & Eng. dial.
• MEN IN BLUE
n. 1851 – the police → Brit. colloq.
• THE MEN IN BLUE
n. 1. 1851 – the police → colloq.
n. 2. 1857 – sailors
n. 3. 1866 – American Federal troops
• MENINGITOPHOBIA
n. 1991 – an abnormal fear of meningitis (Bk.)
• MEN IN SUITS
n. 1980 – senior managers, usually those in finance and administration rather than in creative posts → sl.
• MENJUS
adj. 1890 – tremendous → Eng. dial.
• MENK
vb. 1905 – to have an inclination or longing for anything → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
• MENKIN
n. 1905 – a longing, a craving → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
• MENO
n. 1920 – menopause → sl.
• MENSALIA
n. 1679 – table talk → US
• MENSCH
n. 1910 – a ‘real man’, the implication being of character and integrity rather than sexual or physical prowess → sl.
• MENSE
adj. 1879 – decent, respectable; clean, tidy, neat → Eng. dial.
n. 1. 1737 – decency, propriety, decorum; sense, discretion, tact; good manners, politeness → Sc. & Eng. dial.
n. 2. 1785 – pay, recompense, reward; thanks, grateful return; kindness → Sc. & Eng. dial.
n. 3. 1791 – honour, respect, reverence → Sc.
n. 4. 1810 – a credit; an ornament → Sc.
n. 5. 1841 – profuse hospitality, liberality; a liberal amount, a great deal → Sc. & Eng. dial.
n. 6. 1867 – neatness, tidiness, order; freshness, gloss, newness, bloom → Eng. dial.
vb. 1. 1641 – to grace, to decorate, to adorn; to do honour to; to behave respectfully or courteously to → Sc. & Eng. dial.
vb. 2. 1859 – to tidy, to make clean and neat; to clear up; also, to dress or smarten oneself up → Eng. dial.
vb. 3. 1905 – to make up for; to amend, to improve → Sc. (Bk.)
• MENSEFUL
adj. 1. 1703 – tidy, clean, neat; in good order → Sc. & Eng. dial.
adj. 2. 1783 – mannerly, polite, well-behaved; courteous, well-bred; respectful → Sc. & Eng. dial.
adj. 3. 1790 – becoming, proper, seemly, modest, discreet; creditable to a man, decent, respectable → Sc. & Eng. dial.
adj. 4. 1885 – hospitable; generous, liberal → Sc. & Eng. dial.
adj. 5. 1905 – useful → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
• MENSEFULLY
adv. 1891 – becomingly, suitably, decently, fittingly → Sc. & Eng. dial.
• MENSEFULNESS
n. 1891 – tidiness, order → Eng. dial.
• MENSELESS
adj. 1. 1742 – greedy, covetous; selfish, inhospitable → Sc. & Eng. dial.
adj. 2. 1790 – immoderate, out of all due bounds; incalculable; extraordinary → Sc.
adj. 3. 1809 – thoughtless, silly, foolish; senseless → Sc.
adj. 4. 1811 – unmannerly, rude, ill-bred; uncultured, unpolished → Sc. & Eng. dial.
adj. 5. 1811 – without regard for decency or propriety; indecent; untidy, disorderly → Eng. dial.
• MENSE-MONEY
n. 1905 – pocket-money; money kept in the pocket so as to never be without money and to show one’s respectability → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
• MENSEN UP
vb. 1889 – to tidy, to make clean and neat, to put in order → Eng. dial.
• MENSE-PENNY
n. 1905 – pocket-money; money kept in the pocket so as to never be without money and to show one’s respectability → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
• MENSES
n. 1905 – charity → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
• MENSH
n. 1. 1910 – a ‘real man’, the implication being of character and integrity rather than sexual or physical prowess → sl.
n. 2. 1980 – a mention → sl.
vb. 1910 – to mention → sl.
• MENSKINS
adj. 1534 – of the male sex → obs.
• MENSURATE
vb. 1653 – to measure; to take the dimensions of; to ascertain the size, extent or quantity of
• MENT
adj. 1783 – mixed, mingled → Eng. dial. obs.
n. 1885 – resemblance; likeness to → Eng. dial.
vb. 1790 – to resemble, to take after; to personate → Eng. dial.
• MENTAL
adj. 1. ..L19 – insane, crazy, out of one’s mind → sl.
adj. 2. 1990 – angry → sl.
adj. 3. 1990s – used as an intensifier meaning wonderful, bizarre, terrifying according to context → sl.
n. 1. 1913 – an insane, deranged person; a mental patient → sl.
n. 2. 1980 – a psychiatric institution → Irish sl.
• MENTAL GIANT
n. 1980 – a fool, an idiot → Irish sl.
• MENTAL HERNIA
n. 1. 1970 – a fool; an idiot; an oaf; a stupid person → Amer. sl.
n. 2. 1972 – a mental breakdown → Amer. jocular usage
• MENTALIST
n. 1990 – an eccentric → UK juvenile sl.
• MENTAL JOB
n. 1920 – one who is or potentially might be insane → sl.
• MENTALLER
n. 1990 – an eccentric → UK juvenile sl.
• MENTAL MIDGET
n. 1. 1966 – an absent-minded or inattentive person; a stupid person → Amer. sl.
n. 2. 1983 – in baseball: a player who makes dumb mistakes → Amer. sl.
• MENTIMUTATION
n. 1650 – a change of mind → obs.
• MENTION
n. 1892 – a trifle; a little bit → Sc.
• MENTIONATE
vb. 1525 – to mention, to speak of; to tell→ obs.
• MENTISENTAL
adj. 1840 – sentimental → sl.
• MENTITH
n. 1897 – a meal; a dish → Sc.
• MENTITION
n. 1656 – the act of lying; a falsehood → obs.
• MENTLER
adj. 1990 – crazy, insane → sl.
n. 1990 – a crazy person → sl.
• MENTO
n. 1905 – obligation, debt → Sc. (Bk.)
• MENTULOMANIA
n. 1991 – an obsession with the penis (Bk.)
• MENYIE
n. 1. 1598 – a crowd, a throng, a multitude; a number; used both of persons and things → Sc. & Eng. dial.
n. 2. 1703 – a family; household → Sc. & Eng. dial. obs.
n. 3. 1721 – a retinue, a train of followers, a suite; a company of followers, a procession → Sc.
vb. 1. 1400 – to maim → Sc. obs.
vb. 2. 1905 – to crowd, to mix confusedly → Sc. (Bk.)
• MENZIE
n. 1. 1598 – a crowd, a throng, a multitude; a number; used both of persons and things → Sc. & Eng. dial.
n. 2. 1721 – a retinue, a train of followers, a suite; a company of followers, a procession → Sc.
• MEOUT
n. 1905 – a slight sound, the least noise → Sc. & Ireland (Bk.)
• MEOW
adj. 1942 – unpleasant; disagreeable → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
n. 1. 1958 – a bend or snarl in a line; a crook in a road; anything out of line → Amer. logging usage
n. 2. 1990 – an expedition with the aim of causing trouble or shoplifting → US sl.
• MEOWL
n. 1653 – the cry of a tiger → Sc. obs.
vb. 1888 – to mew or cry like a cat → Sc. & Eng. dial.
• MEOWLING
n. 1905 – a crying → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
• MERC
n. 1967 – a mercenary soldier → sl.
• MERCHANT
n. 1. 1831 – a buyer, a purchaser, a customer → Sc.
n. 2. 1884 – a wooer → Sc.
n. 3. 1905 – shopping, the purchasing of goods → Sc. (Bk.)
n. 4. 1914 – a person devoted to or unusually proficient in the stated activity, as a ‘speed merchant’ → sl.
• MERCHANT MAY’S LITTLE SUMMER
n. 1905 – a fine summer → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
• MERCHANT OF DEATH
n. 1915 – a manufacturer or other businessman who made money from the war → World War I Amer. sl.
• MERCHANT OF EEL-SKINS
n. 1562 – ? a rag and bone collector → obs.
• MERCIABLE
adj. 1225 – merciful, compassionate → obs.
• MERCIFUL
adj. 1. 1836 – lucky, fortunate → Sc.
adj. 2. 1897 – of the weather: favourable, propitious, seasonable → Sc.
adv. 1874 – very → Eng. dial.
• MERCIFUL JAYBIRD!
int. 1939 – an exclamation → Amer. dial.
• MERCIMENT
n. 1839 – mercy; discretion → Sc.
• MERCURY
n. 1942 – a nickname for a fast or energetic person → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
• MERCY
int. 1867 – an exclamation of surprise, indignation, etc. → Eng. dial.
n. 1826 – whisky; general in plural → Sc.
• MERCY BE BLESSED!
int. 1900 – an exclamation of surprise, sorrow, etc. → Sc.
• MERCY BLESS THEE!
int. 1899 – an exclamation of surprise, sorrow, etc. → Sc.
• MERCY BLOW THROUGH
phr. 1915 – many thanks; ‘merci beaucoup’ → World War I Amer. sl.
• MERCY BUCKETS
phr. 20C – “thanks” → Amer. sl.
• MERCY OH!
int. 1893 – an exclamation of surprise, sorrow, etc. → Eng. dial.
• MERCY SAKES ALIVE!
int. 1905 – an exclamation → Amer. dial. (Bk.)
• MERCY SAVE ONE!
int. 1900 – an exclamation of surprise, sorrow, etc. → Sc.
• MERCY SEAT
n. 1942 – a bench, seat, or rail set aside for penitents at the front of a church or revival meeting → Amer. dial.
• MERDAL
adj. 1865 – big, clumsy, fat → Sc.
n. 1897 – a fat, clumsy woman → Sc.
• MERDIL • MERDLE
n. 1882 – a confused crowd of people or animals; a numerous family of little children; a huddle of small animals → Sc.
• MERDLY
adv. 1905 – merrily → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
• MERE
n. 1. 1788 – a small lake or sheet of standing water; a pond → Sc. & Eng. dial.
n. 2. 1905 – a marsh; sodden, reedy ground; ground permanently under water → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
n. 3. 1968 – a grandmother → Amer. dial.
• MERE-POOL
n. 1905 – a pool of water → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
• MERE-SIDE
n. 1905 – the margin of a lake → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
• MERESMAN
n. 1905 – a parish officer who attends to the roads, bridges, and watercourses → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
• MERESTEAD
n. 1620 – a farm → US
• MERESWINE
n. ..725 – a dolphin or porpoise → obs. exc. Sc.
• MERETRICATE
vb. 1623 – to play the whore; to behave lasciviously → obs.
• MERETRICIAL
adj. 1751 – befitting a harlot; having the character of a harlot → obs.
• MERETRICULATE
vb. 1611 – to deceive as a harlot does → obs.
• MEREY
adj. 1868 – full of fens or small sheets of water → Eng. dial.
• MERF
n. 2000 – cow dung → UK playground sl.
• MER-FIRE
n. 1887 – the luminous appearance of the sea at night → Eng. dial.
• MERGAL
n. 1905 – confusion, a mess → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
• MERGERY-PRATER
n. 1567 – a hen → cant obs.
• MERGIN
adj. 1905 – most numerous, largest → Sc. (Bk.)
• MERGLE
n. 1905 – confusion, a mess → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
vb. 1905 – to wonder, to express surprise → Sc.
• MERIDIAN
n. 1804 – a midday drink → Sc.
• MERIDIATION
n. 1623 – a sleeping at noon; a midday nap; a siesta → obs.
• MERINTHOPHOBIA
n. 1991 – an abnormal fear of being bound (Bk.)
• MERITORIOUS
adj. 1905 – having a show of reason or excuse → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
• MER-LADY
n. 1822 – a mermaid → Sc.
• MERLE
n. 1. 1725 – the common blackbird → Sc. & Ireland
n. 2. 1905 – the link of a chain → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
• MERLINS!
int. 1905 – an exclamation of surprise → Sc.
• MERMOOTH
n. 1905 – the entrance to a haven → Eng. dial.
• MEROBIBE
n. 1727 – one who drinks pure wine without a mixture of water → obs.
• MERRICKING
adj. 1905 – rollicking, ‘up to a lark’ (Bk.)
• MERRIMENT
n. 1905 – a professional clown; a comical person, one quick at making jokes → Eng. dial.. (Bk.)
• MERRIMENTAL
adj. 1821 – merry; noisy → Eng. dial. obs.
• MERROW
n. 1862 – a mermaid → Ireland
• MERRY
adj. 1575 – drunk → euphemism
• MERRY-BEGOT
adj. 1905 – illegitimate → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
n. 1885 – an illegitimate child → Eng. dial.
• MERRY-BEGOTTEN
adj. 1883 – illegitimate → Sc. & Eng. dial.
n. 1905 – an illegitimate child → Sc. & Eng. dial. (Bk.)
• MERRY-BOUT
n. 1780 – an act of sexual intercourse → sl.
• MERRY-DANCE
n. 1827 – the Aurora Borealis → Sc.
• MERRY DANCERS
n. 1. 1693 – the Aurora Borealis → Sc. & Eng. dial.
n. 2. 1905 – the vapours arising from the earth on a warm day when seen flickering in the atmosphere → Sc. (Bk.)
• MERRY-DAY
n. 1905 – a busy time → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
• MERRY-GO-UP
n. 1821 – snuff → sl.
• MERRY GREEK
n. M16 – a boisterous or dissolute person
• MERRY HELL
n. 1. 1911 – great trouble, upheaval, or disturbance → sl.
n. 2. 1963 – severe pain → sl.
• MERRY-HYNE
n. 1905 – a good riddance, a contemptuous dismissal → Sc. (Bk.)
• MERRY LEGS
n. 19C – a prostitute → Brit. sl.
• MERRY-MAID
n. 1. 1865 – a mermaid → Eng. dial.
n. 2. 1905 – a dragonfly → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
• MERRYMAKER
n. 19C – the penis → Brit. sl.
• MERRY-MAN
n. 1835 – a clown, a buffoon, a merry-andrew → Sc. & Eng. dial.
• MERRY-MAY
n. 1830 – the dragonfly → Eng. dial.
• MERRY-MEAL
n. 1905 – a feast held to celebrate the birth of a child → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
• MERRY-MEAT
n. 1824 – a feast held to celebrate the birth of a child → Sc.
• MERRY-MUCK HEAPT
adv. 1848 – higgledy-piggledy, in confusion → Eng. dial.
• MERRY-NEST
n. 1905 – a hiding-place for eatables or delicacies for one’s own private delectation → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
• MERRYTHOUGHT
n. 1. 1598 – the forked bone of a fowl’s breast; the wishbone
n. 2. 1786 – a construction of wire worn to increase the apparent size of a woman’s bust; a false bust → obs.
• MERRY-TOTTER
n. 1. 1775 – a swing formed of a rope thrown over a beam → Eng. dial.
n. 2. 1790 – a seesaw → Eng. dial. obs.
• MERRY-TROTTER
n. 1775 – a swing formed of a rope thrown over a beam → Eng. dial.
• MERRY WIDOW
n. 1. 1928 – a condom → Amer. sl.
n. 2. 1965 – the black widow spider → Amer. dial.
• MERSK
n. 1905 – a marsh → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
• MERTERED
adj. 1898 – bedaubed, bespattered → Sc.
• MERTH
n. 1677 – plenty, abundance; a great deal → Eng. dial.
• MERTYREESE
vb. 1884 – to victimize, to martyr → Sc.
• MERVE
adj. 1. 1899 – savoury, agreeable to the taste → Sc.
adj. 2. 1899 – of fruit: rich, mellow, ripe → Sc.
• MERVIL
adj. 1. 1905 – inactive of mind or body → Sc. (Bk.)
adj. 2. 1905 – nervous, trembling → Sc. (Bk.)
• MERVY
adj. 1. 1899 – savoury, agreeable to the taste → Sc.
adj. 2. 1899 – of fruit: rich, mellow, ripe → Sc.
• MER-WIFE
n. 1822 – a mermaid-wife → Sc. obs.
• MER-WOMAN
n. 1822 – a mermaid → Sc. obs.
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