Meaning
Many small amounts or efforts, accumulated patiently, eventually make a substantial whole. The title preserves the historically meaningful form. 'Many a mickle makes a muckle' is a well-known later reshaping based on the mistaken idea that mickle means little. Regional use: Scots and wider English proverbial use.
Origin
William Camden printed 'Many a little makes a mickle' in 1614. In older English and Scots, 'mickle' and 'muckle' both mean a large amount, so the later form 'many a mickle makes a muckle' reverses the proverb's logic rather than preserving its original wording. That reshaped version became famous through its association with George Washington.
Research Sources
References used to check this entry’s meaning, history, or documented forms.
Variants
- Many a mickle makes a muckle
- Many littles make a mickle
Usage Examples
- She saved one coin from every sale, knowing many a little makes a mickle.
- Repair one yard of wall each week; many littles make a mickle.
- The subscription grew by modest gifts, proof that many a little makes a mickle.