[Early Modern English, from Middle French, lover, minion, from Old French mignon, possibly meaning “man who is sexually penetrated by another” (used as a term of abuse) : mign-, imitative root expressing delicacy or charm (as also in Old French mignot, pretty, charming; akin to mign- in Italian mignolo, the little finger or toe, and mignola, budding raceme of an olive tree, and Occitan minh- in minhot, darling) + -on, noun suffix (from Latin -ō, -ōn-).]