Mean’un
In Southern and Appalachian speech, "mean’un" means "mean one." It describes a person or animal that’s rough, ill-tempered, or plain ornery.
synonyms: mean one, tough one, ornery one, bad’un
Hillbilly Dude Says...
We've had plenty of rootsers I'd call 'mean’uns' - just like pretty much everbody else that grew up down here. Pronunciation
[MEE-nuhn] /ˈmiː.nən/
Meaning & Usage
- Someone or something rough, ornery, or mean-tempered
Clyde:
You still keep that old hog?
You still keep that old hog?
Jess:
Yeah, but watch yourself-she’s a mean’un.
Yeah, but watch yourself-she’s a mean’un.variations: mean one, meanun, mean ’un
Origin and Etymology
A contraction of "mean one," following the same regional pattern seen in "good’un" and "bad’un." It likely traces back to older British English dialects where "one" was shortened to "’un," a form preserved in rural Southern and Appalachian speech since the 1800s.
Usage Notes
Commonly used for mean people, aggressive animals, or anything unpleasant to deal with. Tone can range from warning to admiration, depending on the speaker.
- "He’s a mean’un when he’s drinkin’." → rough or aggressive person.
- "That bull’s a mean’un." → dangerous animal.
- "Storm rolled through-she was a mean’un." → strong or destructive force.