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Who uses the word 'wee' as in small?

Who uses the word 'wee' as in small?

Who uses the word 'wee' as in small?

(OP)
As a Kiwi living in Oz I'm always amused at the reaction the word 'wee' elicits from the Aussie's.

Like, "I'll see you in a wee while."

I come from the South Island of NZ and the lower South Island was heavily settled by the Scot's hence the word. Never heard it in the North Island and although Australia was settled by the English I've never heard an Aussie use it. Given that the sun never went down on the English Empire does it exist or is it in usage today in other former British Colonies?

Dictionary.Com
wee (we)
adj. we·er, we·est
Very small; tiny. See Synonyms at small.
Very early: the wee hours of the morning.

n. Scots
A short time; a little bit.


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[Middle English wei, we, a small amount, small, from Old English wge, wg, weight. See wegh- in Indo-European Roots.]

RE: Who uses the word 'wee' as in small?

The only time I use it is in the wee hours of the morning.

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RE: Who uses the word 'wee' as in small?

I'm a native born Aussie, and I use the word wee occasionally, as do many others I know, to describe small things.

I believe the Scotts and I guess some regions of NZ use it in a much more prolific and general manner

Regards
pat   pprimmer@acay.com.au
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RE: Who uses the word 'wee' as in small?

My daughter recently visited Northern Ireland and mentioned that they use the word "wee" there as much as Americans use the word "little". e.g.: a little bit in the US is a wee bit in NI. This word is also used when speaking of a child, referred to as "one"; hence the phrase: "Is that your wee 'un?"

RE: Who uses the word 'wee' as in small?

Of course, "wee" can mean something else in English. "I am just going to have a wee in these bushes."

RE: Who uses the word 'wee' as in small?

I always thought that was spelled with a "Z" jmw?

I use wee, but never in any normal mode of speech.  I only use it when I am trying to make a point or be funny, or make a funny point.  Like when Sales wants a prototype so they can sell it to a customer, and they want it in 2 days (normal lead time is about 2 weeks).

"I can do that, but it'll take a wee bit 'o work."

Ray Reynolds
"There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home."
Ken Olson, president, chairman and founder of Digital Equipment Corp., 1977
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RE: Who uses the word 'wee' as in small?

jmw

I always thought wee in that contex implied that you needed to respond to a call of nature, but it was the type that could be attended to in wee time, rather than the type that might reqiure you to be absent for a longer time.

Regards
pat   pprimmer@acay.com.au
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RE: Who uses the word 'wee' as in small?

RE: Who uses the word 'wee' as in small?

(OP)
Funny how things pop in to your head.

I always thought teensy weensy was one word separated by a hyphen. Not so apparently - separate words both meaning tiny.

Question: does weensy mean smaller than wee?

RE: Who uses the word 'wee' as in small?

Kiwikid
Yes it is a synonym for a nanowee.

In Canada the word wee is popular on the east coast.  In the rest of the country it does get used just not as often.

Now, if you will excuse me I need a wee bit of a nap.

RE: Who uses the word 'wee' as in small?

I use wee as "a wee bit" but I'd probably never use it when writing a technical paper.

RE: Who uses the word 'wee' as in small?

jmw,
I you sure it is not wee wee as used in that sense?  That is what I was taught as a wee tyke.  Did you go wee wee?  Do you need to go wee wee.  Is it a verb when used this way?

Jesus is THE life,
Leonard

RE: Who uses the word 'wee' as in small?

But that's toddler-speak (note the use of hyphenation!!).  

Moreover, it's now off-topic and belongs in the redundancy thread

TTFN

RE: Who uses the word 'wee' as in small?

IRstuffy,
Lighten-up a wee bit.  Are we not all having a little fun along with the serious stuff?  I was just chiming-in with jmws' post even if he wasn't using toddler-speak.  Please overlook any misuse of hyphenation.  I will read that thread when I get time.  And BTW thanks for pointing out hyphenation as that has always puzzled me when to and when not to so this will be opportune for me to learn.

This little piggy went wee-wee-wee-wee all the way home!

Happy hyphenating.

Jesus is THE life,
Leonard

RE: Who uses the word 'wee' as in small?

My-tongue is always firmly in-cheek

TTFN

RE: Who uses the word 'wee' as in small?

The word 'wee' is still used in the north-east of England, the result, no doubt, of our proximity to Scotland.

Hadrian should have built a higher wall!



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