Pygmies

Variant of Pygmy

Pygmy definition

Pygmy (pig′mē)

noun pl. Pygmies -·mies

  1. any of several groups of small African or Asian peoples described in ancient history and legend
  2. a person belonging to any of several modern African (Negrillo) and Asian (Negrito) peoples of small stature
  3. any person, animal, or plant abnormally undersized; dwarf
  4. an insignificant person or thing

Etymology: ME pigmey < L pygmaeus < Gr pygmaios, of the length of the pygmē, forearm and fist, also fist: see pugnacious

adjective

  1. of the Pygmies
    1. very small
    2. insignificant

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Comments


Do you have more to add? Sign in to share your linguistic knowledge or observation.

Connect with Facebook