Many small amounts accumulate to make a large amount.
What’s the origin of the phrase ‘Many a little makes a mickle’?
A mickle, or as they prefer it in Scotland, a muckle, means ‘great or large in size’. Apart from ‘many a little (or pickle) makes a mickle’ the words only now remain in use in UK place-names, like Muckle Flugga in Shetland (which amply lives up to its translated name of ‘large, steep-sided island’) and Mickleover in Derbyshire (listed in the Domesday Book as Magna Oufra – ‘large village on the hill’). ‘Over’ and ‘upper’ are very common prefixes in English place-names, along with their opposites ‘under’, ‘lower’, ‘nether’ or ‘little’. Examples of these are the Cotswold villages of Upper and Lower Slaughter, and the Hampshire villages of Over and Nether Wallop. The word ‘much’ derives from the Old English ‘mickle’ and has now almost entirely replaced it. ‘Much’ is also used in place-names like Much Wenlock, Shropshire (there’s also a Little Wenlock, of course).
The proverbial phrase ‘many a little makes a mickle’ has now itself been largely superseded by the 18th century ‘look after the pennies (originally, ‘take care of the pence’), and the pounds will look after (‘take care of’) themselves’.
Yes, the Annisquam Sewing Circle is still going strong. You have a find there, but perhaps not valued much in your area. On the title page, you will see the names Margaret (Peggy) Norton and Dorothy Norton, both of whom we part of the well-known group, The Folly Cove Designers. The Cape Ann Museum has information on the ASC as well as the Annisquam Historical Society and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts archieves.
The Annisquam Sewing Circle published a much-loved cookbook in 1941 and another in 1945. The organization celebrated its 175th anniversary in 2012 and published another wonderful cookbook bound to be a cherished addition to the kitchen. “A Circle of Recipes” has over 400 recipes from the membership. It is out of print now.