mickle: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Low (Archaic/Proverbial)Archaic, Literary, Proverbial
Quick answer
What does “mickle” mean?
A large amount or great quantity of something.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A large amount or great quantity of something.
Historically used as a noun or adjective meaning 'great', 'much', or 'many'. Survives mainly in the proverb 'Many a little makes a mickle' (often misrendered as 'Many a mickle makes a muckle'), which means many small amounts accumulate into a large amount.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, particularly Scotland, the word is slightly more recognisable due to its Scots origin and the proverb. In the US, it is extremely rare and known almost exclusively through the misquoted proverb.
Connotations
Archaic, quaint, folksy wisdom when used in the proverb.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both, slightly higher recognition in the UK.
Grammar
How to Use “mickle” in a Sentence
[Many a little] makes [a mickle] (proverbial structure)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “mickle” in a Sentence
adverb
British English
- (Archaic) She was mickle pleased with the result.
American English
- (Archaic) The rumours were mickle exaggerated.
adjective
British English
- (Archaic) He was a man of mickle might.
- (Archaic) There is mickle work to be done.
American English
- (Archaic) They had mickle reason to celebrate.
- (Archaic) The task required mickle strength.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Only appears in historical linguistics or literature studies discussing archaic terms or proverbs.
Everyday
Extremely rare; might be used knowingly to sound quaint or to quote the proverb.
Technical
No technical usage.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “mickle”
- Using 'mickle' as a modern synonym for 'much'.
- Misquoting the proverb as 'Many a mickle makes a muckle', which incorrectly uses 'mickle' to mean 'small'.
- Pronouncing it like 'pickle' with a hard /k/; the 'ck' is pronounced as /k/ but the word is two syllables: /mɪk-əl/.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is considered archaic. Its only surviving use is in the proverb 'Many a little makes a mickle', and even that is often misquoted.
They are synonyms, both meaning 'large' or 'much'. 'Mickle' is from Middle English and Scots, 'muckle' is the Scots form. The misquoted proverb 'many a mickle makes a muckle' is nonsensical because it uses two words with the same meaning.
It is not advisable unless you are directly quoting the proverb or writing about historical language. Using it as a standard synonym for 'much' will sound archaic and odd.
The original form is 'Many a little makes a mickle' (many small amounts make a large one). The common but incorrect version is 'Many a mickle makes a muckle'.
A large amount or great quantity of something.
Mickle: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmɪk(ə)l/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmɪkəl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Many a little makes a mickle.”
- “(Common misquotation: Many a mickle makes a muckle.)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'nickel' (a small coin). Many nickels make a MICKLE (a large amount of money).
Conceptual Metaphor
ACCUMULATION IS GROWTH (many small things accumulate into one large thing).
Practice
Quiz
What is the correct meaning of 'mickle' in the proverb 'Many a little makes a mickle'?