mickle

[ mik-uhl ]

adjective

, Archaic.

1. great; large; much.

mickle

/ ˈmɪkəl; ˈmʌkəl /

adjective

1. great or abundant

adverb

1. much; greatly

noun

1. a great amount, esp in the proverb, mony a little makes a mickle
2. a small amount, esp in the proverb, many a mickle maks a muckle

Word History and Origins

Origin of mickle¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English mikel, from Old Norse mikill; replacing Middle English michel, Old English micel; cognate with Old High German mihil, Gothic mikils, akin to Latin magnus, Greek mégas. See much

Word History and Origins

Origin of mickle¹

C13 mikel, from Old Norse mikell, replacing Old English micel much

Example Sentences

I come to the end of things, dear friend, and he waxes mickle; my tides have gone slack and flaccid, while his swell newly to proxigean spring and rush through the gut.

From Literature

“She will say, God’s Feet, but my sons are of mickle might!”

From Literature

There’s a Jamaican phrase, “Every mickle mek a muckle,” which means “Every little bit adds up.”

From Time

Many a mickle makes a muckle NECESSITY, so the proverb has it, is the mother of invention.

From Economist

And therefore as long as she lives I will be harboured with her, for she makes mickle of me.”

From Project Gutenberg