Page:The ancient language, and the dialect of Cornwall.djvu/239

219 Mimsey, or Minny. A minnow (fish). Menow, minoWj and minys are Celtic Cornish words, and mean little, small. Minch, or Mich. To play the truant. In Glouces- tershire they say moocL Mincher; or Micher. A truant. Minching, or Miching. Playing the truant. ^^ Marry ! this is miching Mallecho." Hamlet. Milky-dicelS, or disles. Thistles used for rabbits' food. Milprev. The Druids' or serpents' egg, Lhutjcl. The ovum anguinum of Pliny. From the Celtic Cornish mil, a thousand; and prev, a reptile. It was a common belief in Cornwall, about 1700, that the glass beads which are frequently found in Cornwall, and Wales, and called by the Welsh glain neiclyr, were the work of snakes j and it is a common belief now in Wales, that on a certain day of the year an immense number of snakes come together and make these beads with the foam of their mouths. This agrees substantially with Pliny's account, and has descended from the Druids. Williams^ Cor. Dicfy. Milsey, Milcy, or Milchy. Corn injured by damp undergoes a change, and becomes milsey. The bread made from it has a doughy consistence, and a pecu- liar taste, and is called milsey or ropy bread.