Minnow

(min'nō), n. [Probably from Fr. menu, little, small, from Lat. minutus, little, small, minute; hence, O. Fr. menuise, small fish.] (Ichth.) A very small fresh-water fish, of several species; — applied also sometimes to the young of larger kinds.

☞ The minnow of England, from which the term is derived, is a species of the Cyprinus of Linnæus, Leuciscus phoxinus of Cuvier. [Written also minow.]