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ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY
It may be from the root min, small (*minno-), a form which suits the W. best.
meannd, mint; from the Eng.
meantairig, venture; from Eng. venturing. W. mentra.
mear, merry, Ir. mear; cf. Eng. merry, Ag. S. merge, myrige, O. H. G. murg, murgi (root mṛgh). The E. Ir. mer, mad, is allied to mearachd. O. Ir. meraigim, prurio. Lat. meretrix.
mearachd, error, Ir. mearaighim, I err, mearughadh, a mistaking, erring, M. Ir. merugud, wandering, root mer, mṛ; Gr. ἁμαρτανω, miss (see brath); Eng. mar, Got. marzian, cause to stumble. Cf. E. Ir. mer, mad, meracht, mad act, O. Ir. meraige, a fool, O. Br. mergidhaam, I am silly, which Loth joins to Gr. μάργος, mad.
mearcach, rash; from the root of mear.
mearganta, brisk, lively, meargadaich, be impatient (Suth), Ir. mearganta, brisk; from mear.
mèarsadh, marching; see màrsadh.
mearsuinn, vigour, strength; cf. marsainn, abiding, from mar, remain.
meas, fruit, Ir. meas, fruit, especially acorns, measog, acorn, E. Ir. mess, fruit, W. mes, acorns, Cor. mesen, glans, Br. mesenn, acorn: *messu-, root, med, mad, eat (see manntach), and, for force, cf. Eng. mast, fruit of forest trees, Ag. S. maest, fruit of oak or beech, Ger. mast.
meas, judgement, opinion, respect, Ir. meas, O. Ir. mess, *messu-, root med; Lat. meditari, think, modus, method; Gr. μέδομαι, think of; Got. mitan, measure, Eng. mete: further root mê, measure, Eng. metre, meter, etc.
measan, a lapdog, Ir. measán, E. Ir. measan, meschu:
measair, a tub, measure; see miosar.
measarra, temperate, modest, Ir. measarrdha, O. Ir. mesurda: mensura (Stokes). But it may be from meas, judgment.
measg, am measg, among, Ir. measg, a measg, among, W. ym mysg, M. Br. e mesg: *med-sko-, root med, medh, as in meadhon, middle.
measg, measgach, mix, Ir. measgaim, E. Ir. mescaim, W. mysgu: *miskô, *mig-skô, root, mig, mik; Gr. mígnomi, mísgw; Lat. misceo; Eng. mix, Ger. mischen; Lit. maiszýti; Skr. miksh.
measgan, a dish to hold butter, Ir. míosgan; see miosgan. But cf. E. Ir. mescan, a lump of butter, M. Ir. mesgan, masa; from measg, mix?
meat, meata, feeble, soft, cowardly, Ir. meata, E. Ir. meta, cowardly: *mit-tavo-; see meath. W. has meth, failure. *mettaios (St.)
