a. (sb.) Compared tinier, -iest. Also 6 tynie, 7 tyny, tiney, -ye, 9 dial. teeny. [app. f. TINE a. and sb. + -Y (? after adjs. in -y).
But some would take tiny as a later spelling of ’tiné, assumed as the original form of tine: see Note to TINE a.]
Very small, little, or slight; wee, minute.
(In early use usually, and still often, preceded by little.)
1598. Tofte, Alba (1880), 21. Yet still (me thinkes) mine Ayme, being not base, I should deserue some little tynie Grace.
1599. Nashe, Lenten Stuffe, 4. A patterne or tiny sample [printed tiny-sample] what my elaborate performance would bee in this case, had I a ful-sayld gale of prosperity to encourage mee.
[1656. Blount, Glossogr., Tiney (a word used in Worcestershire and thereabouts, as a little tiney).]
1664. Cotton, Scarron., 97. This Cupid was a little tyny, Cogging, Lying, Peevish Nynny.
1677. Man of Sin, II. v. 93. In what part of the World are such Tiny Crustlings used for Bread?
1691. Ray, N. C. Words, Tiny, puny, little: it is usually joyned with ‘little’ as an intensive: so they say, a little tiny thing.
1740–6. Mrs. Delany, in Life & Corr. (1861), III. 31. I told you I was to have a tiny ball on Monday.
1812. J. Wilson, Isle of Palms, I. 63. The tiniest boat that ever sailed Upon an inland lake.
1858. Lytton, What will he do, I. vi. On that knee she clasped her tiny hands.
1880. Agnes Giberne, Sun, Moon & Stars, 115. Closer and closer examination with the microscope only shows tinier and yet tinier wonders of form and life, each perfect in finish.
1887. Poor Nellie (1888), 168. Adela had of late been one tiny bit exacting towards George.
B. as sb.
† 1. A very small amount: = TINE sb.6 (perh. only a copyist’s error for this.) Obs. rare–1.
a. 1650. Lord of Learne, 272, in Furniv., Percy Folio, I. 192. Thou hast striken the Lord of learne a litle tinye aboue the knee.
2. A tiny one, a very small child, an infant. Usu. in pl. tinies (cf. grown-ups).
1863. ‘Holme Lee,’ Annie Warleigh, II. 270. The little ones … marshalled by the infant class mistress, and by Alice who was a clever manager amongst the very tinies.
1883. Sword & Trowel, Jan., 37. Sure to please the growing tinies.
1883. G. Meredith, Love in Valley, xxii. When she was a tiny.
