Pygmy
Pygmy definition
Pygmy (pig′mē)
noun pl. Pygmies -·mies
- any of several groups of small African or Asian peoples described in ancient history and legend
- a person belonging to any of several modern African (Negrillo) and Asian (Negrito) peoples of small stature
- any person, animal, or plant abnormally undersized; dwarf
- 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
- of the Pygmies
- very small
- insignificant
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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