Menzies is a Scottish surname probably derived, like its Gaelic form Méinnearach, from the Norman name Mesnières.
The name is historically pronounced, as it still is in Scotland, i/ˈmɪŋɨz/ (or "ming-iz"), since the English letter
A Scottish limerick plays on the spelling–pronunciation problem:
- There wis a young lassie named Menzies,
- That asked her aunt whit this thenzies.
- Said her aunt wi a gasp,
- "Ma dear, it's a wasp,
- An you're haudin the end whaur the stenzies!"
(The second and fifth lines are pronounced as though the
(Curiously, the American Heritage Dictionary, which lists only Robert Menzies, gives the "incorrect" pronunciation.)
Famous quotes containing the word menzies:
“Men of genius are not be analyzed by commonplace rules. The rest of us who have been or are leaders, more commonplace in our quality, will do well to remember two things. One is never to forget posterity when devising a policy. The other is never to think of posterity when making a speech.”
—Robert Menzies (1894–1978)
“Experiment is necessary in establishing an academy, but certain principles must apply to this business of art as to any other business which affects the artis tic sense of the community. Great art speaks a language which every intelligent person can understand. The people who call themselves modernists today speak a different language.”
—Robert Menzies (1894–1978)