† migniard, a. and n. Obs.
Also 7 mignard, miniard, Sc. minȝeard.
[a. F. mignard; related to mignon.]
A. adj. Dainty; mincing; caressing.
| 1599 Jas. I βασιλ. Δωρον iii. (1603) 107 In the forme of your meat-eating, be neither vnciuill..nor affectatlie mignarde. Ibid. iii. 115 In your language be plaine..eschewing..all mignard and effœminate termes. 1611 Cotgr., Mignard, migniard, prettie, quaint, neat, feat; wanton; daintie, delicate. 1616 B. Jonson Devil an Ass i. iv, Loue is brought vp with those soft migniard handlings. 1622 A. Bysset in G. G. Smith Middle Scots (1902) 240 Neither have I vsed minȝeard nor effeminate, tanting, invectiue, or skornefull wordis. 1652 Urquhart Jewel Wks. (1834) 294 The milder sexe and miniard youth. 1653 ― Rabelais i. lvii. (1664) 250 Never were seene Ladies so proper and handsome, so miniard and dainty. |
B. n. [= OF. mignarde.] A courtesan, mistress.
| 1616 in Crt. & Times Jas. I (1849) I. 416 She says the honour..of his embassy consists in three mignards, three dancers, and three fools. 1652 Kirkman Clerio & Lozia 93 Idle Migniards, dinner hath waited for you till it is cold. |
Hence † migniardly adv., daintily.
| 1653 Urquhart Rabelais i. lvii. (1664) 249 Their fists miniardly begloved. |