Pygmy

(pig)

noun pl. Pygmies

  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

Origin: 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

See Pygmy in American Heritage Dictionary 4

also Pig·my

noun pl. Pyg·mies also Pig·mies
  1. Greek Mythology A member of a race of dwarfs.
  2. also pygmy A member of any of various peoples, especially of equatorial Africa and parts of southeast Asia, having an average height less than 5 feet (152 centimeters). Not in scientific use.
  3. pygmy
    a. An individual of unusually small size.
    b. An individual considered to be of little or no importance.
adjective
  1. also pygmy Of or relating to the Pygmies. Not in scientific use.
  2. pygmy
    a. Unusually or atypically small.
    b. Unimportant; trivial.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English pigmie

Origin: , from Latin Pygmaeī, the Pygmies

Origin: , from Greek Pugmaioi

Origin: , from pugmē, cubit, fist; see peuk- in Indo-European roots

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