means A minnow is any of various small freshwater fish, and by extension anything tiny or insignificant in a larger competitive field.

from From Old English 'myne,' the name for a small fish, with possible relatives in Old High German 'munewa.' The familiar form 'minnow' settled in by the Middle English period, and the word later swam beyond the riverbank to label small companies, weak sports teams, and any little fish in a big pond.