Pygmy

(pig′mē)

noun pl. Pygmies

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

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

adjective

See Pygmy in American Heritage Dictionary 4

also Pig·my

noun pl. Pyg·mies also Pig·mies

Greek Mythology A member of a race of dwarfs.
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.
pygmy
a. An individual of unusually small size.
b. An individual considered to be of little or no importance.

adjective