Definition of wee

The word "wee" is a Scottish and Northern English dialect term that refers to something small or little. The origin of this word can be traced back to the Old English word "wygan," which meant "small" or "little." This word was later replaced by the Middle English term "wyne," which also meant "small" or "little." In Scots, a dialect of the English language spoken in Scotland, the word "wee" came into use in the 16th century, when it replaced the earlier Scots term "wyne" for "small." This change was likely due to the influence of Old Norse, which had also used a similar-sounding word, "vígligr," as a term for "little" or "small." Over time, the Scots term "wee" began to spread beyond Scotland and into neighboring English-speaking regions, where it gradually became incorporated into the local dialects. Its popularity was no doubt also fueled by its similarity in sound and meaning to other words in the area, such as the Welsh "hyw" and the Cornish "hwee." Today, the word "wee" is still used in Scottish and Northern English dialects, as well as in other English-speaking regions where these dialects have spread, such as the United States (particularly in Appalachia) and Australia. Its popularity and versatility have also led to its incorporation into other languages, such as Dutch (where it is transliterated as "wé" or "wéé") and Afrikaans (where it is known as "wê").