different between minx vs jinx

English

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation, General American) IPA^(key): /m??ks/
• Rhymes: -??ks

Etymology 1

The origin of the noun is uncertain. The following possible derivations have been suggested:

• A variation of minikin (“(obsolete) young person, especially a young woman; small or insignificant person, thing, or amount”) + a variation of -s (suffix forming hypocoristic nouns (nicknames)) (compare minckins, a variant of minikin).
• From Dutch mens, mensch (“human being, person; (derogatory, informal) woman”) (obsolete), Middle Dutch minsc, minsce, minsch; or from German Low German minsch, minsk, Middle Low German minsche (“hussy, wench”), all ultimately from Proto-Germanic *manniskaz (“human”, adjective), from *mann- (“human being, person; man”) (possibly from Proto-Indo-European *??m? (“earthling”), *men- (“to mind; to think; spiritual activity”), or *mon- (“human being; man”)) + *-iskaz (suffix meaning ‘characteristic of, pertaining to’ forming adjectives).

The verb is derived from the noun.

Noun

minx (plural minxes)

1. A flirtatious, impudent, or pert young woman.
2. (derogatory, dated) A promiscuous woman; also, a mistress (“the other woman in an extramarital relationship”) or a prostitute.

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:mistress, Thesaurus:promiscuous woman, Thesaurus:prostitute
3. (obsolete) A pet dog.

Derived terms

Translations

See also

• Thesaurus:lolita
• Thesaurus:troublemaker

Verb

minx (third-person singular simple present minxes, present participle minxing, simple past and past participle minxed)

1. (transitive, intransitive) Used transitively when followed by it: to behave like a minx, that is, in a flirtatious and impudent manner.

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:harlotize
2. (transitive) To make (someone) like a minx; (intransitive) to become like a minx.

Translations

Etymology 2

A variant of mink.

Noun

minx (plural minxes)

1. Often minx otter: obsolete spelling of mink (“any of various semi-aquatic, carnivorous mammals in the Mustelinae subfamily”). [18th–19th c.]

References

Further reading

• minx (disambiguation) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

English

Etymology

From jynx in the transferred sense “a charm or spell”.

Pronunciation

• (UK, US) IPA^(key): /d???ks/
• Homophone: jynx
• Rhymes: -??ks

Noun

jinx (plural jinxes)

1. A hex; an evil spell.

   Synonyms: curse, hoodoo, Indian sign, spell

2. A person or thing supposed to bring bad luck.

Derived terms

• reverse jinx

Translations

Verb

jinx (third-person singular simple present jinxes, present participle jinxing, simple past and past participle jinxed)

1. (transitive) To cast a spell on.
2. (transitive) To bring bad luck to.
3. (transitive) To cause something to happen by mentioning it, usually sarcastically.
   • 2008, Susane Colasanti, When It Happens, Penguin (?ISBN), chapter 46:

     “So you'll all be near New York!” Maggie says. “We don't know for sure yet.” Sara stresses. “Don't jinx it.”

   • 2012, Sally Heinrich, Hungry Ghosts, Hachette UK (?ISBN)

     I've no idea if she guessed what I was intending to do. I don't know why I was so reluctant to talk about it, even to her. Maybe I was afraid that verbalising my intentions would jinx it in some way.

Derived terms

• jinxer

Translations

Interjection

jinx

1. Used after the same thing is said by two people simultaneously.

   Synonym: snap

Translations

Further reading

• jinx on Wikipedia.Wikipedia