many a mickle makes a muckle
- many a mickle makes a muckle
A popular corruption of the preceding entry (
many a little makes a mickle). This alternative form is in fact nonsensical, as
muckle is merely a variant of the dialectal
mickle ‘a large quantity or amount’.
1793 G. WASHINGTON Writings (1939) XXXII. 423 A Scotch addage, than which nothing in nature is more true..‘many mickles make a muckle.’
1940 Huntly Express 19 Jan. 3 He said at the close of his address ‘As the Scots say, and they should know, mony a mickle mak’s a muckle.’.. As the Scots know, he had quoted the proverb wrongly.
1993 ‘C. AIRD’ Going Concern (1994) i. 5 Amelia’s mind had gone off at a complete tangent, trying to work out however many Puckles there must be in the firm. The old saw about thrift came into her mind: ‘Many a mickle makes a muckle...’ Could it be a case of many a client making a Puckle?
Proverbs new dictionary.
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many a mickle makes a muckle — many a mickle makes a muckle) Every little helps ● mickle … Useful english dictionary
many a little makes a mickle (also many a mickle makes a muckle) — many small amounts accumulate to make a large amount. → mickle or & … English new terms dictionary
many a little makes a mickle — The proper version of the next proverb (many a mickle makes a muckle). Pickle, a Scottish word for ‘a small quantity or amount’, is also found instead of little. Mickle (‘a great quantity or amount’) is now only Scottish. a 1250 Ancrene Wisse… … Proverbs new dictionary
many a little makes a mickle — (also many a mickle makes a muckle) proverb many small amounts accumulate to make a large amount … Useful english dictionary
muckle — mickle, muckle These are merely variants of the same word meaning ‘a large amount’, and so the proverb Many a mickle makes a muckle is, in its usual form, a meaningless corruption. The correct form is Many a little (or occasionally pickle =… … Modern English usage
mickle — mickle, muckle These are merely variants of the same word meaning ‘a large amount’, and so the proverb Many a mickle makes a muckle is, in its usual form, a meaningless corruption. The correct form is Many a little (or occasionally pickle =… … Modern English usage
mickle — (also muckle) archaic or Scottish & N. English noun a large amount. adjective very large. Phrases many a little makes a mickle (also many a mickle makes a muckle) many small amounts accumulate to make a large amount. Origin OE micel great,… … English new terms dictionary
mickle — adj. & n. (also muckle) archaic or Sc. adj. much, great. n. a large amount. Phrases and idioms: many a little makes a mickle (orig. erron. many a mickle makes a muckle) many small amounts accumulate to make a large amount. Etymology: ME f. ON… … Useful english dictionary
many — see many a little makes a mickle many a mickle makes a muckle there’s many a slip between cup and lip many are called but few are chosen many hands make light work there’s many a good tune played on an old fiddle … Proverbs new dictionary
mickle — see many a little makes a mickle many a mickle makes a muckle … Proverbs new dictionary
