English Explanatory Dictionary

eeny, meeny, miny, moe

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A method of choosing between two or more people or things, used by children. A child points to each item in turn (or alternately), while saying a rhyme starting "Eeny, meeny, miney, moe", moving to the next item after each word. The item pointed to on the last word of the rhyme is the one chosen.

Pronunciation

/ˌini ˌmini ˌmaɪni ˈmoʊ/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-eeny, meeny, miny, moe.wav

Word forms

eeny, meeny, miny, moe eeni meeni mina mo eeny-meeny-miney-mo

Etymology

Compare Dutch iene miene mutte, German ene mene mu.

Related words

ip dip tinker, tailor duck, duck, goose nievie-nievie-nick-nack
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