Etymology From Middle English min, from Old English min (“less; small, mean”), from Proto-West Germanic *minni, from Proto-Germanic *minniz (“less”), from Proto-Indo-European *mey- (“small, little”). Cognate with Scots min (“less, lesser”), West Frisian min (“small, bad”), Dutch min (“less, small”), Low German minn (“small, low, lean”), German minder (“less”), Icelandic minna (“less”), Latin minus (“less”).
Etymology From Middle English min, minne, partly from Old English myne (“mind, intent, desire, love”), from Proto-West Germanic *muni, from Proto-Germanic *muniz (“mind, memory”); and also from Old Norse minni (“memory”), from Proto-Germanic *gaminþiją (“memory, remembrance”); both from Proto-Indo-European *men- (“to think”). Related to Icelandic minni (“memory”), German Minne (“love”).