pygmy

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Ancient Greek πυγμαῖος (pugmaîos, “a member of a race of dwarves”), from πυγμή (pugmḗ, “fist (as small as a fist)”)

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /pɪɡmiː/
  • Audio (US)(file)

Noun

pygmy (plural pygmies)

  1. (often capitalized) A member of one of various Ancient Equatorial African tribal peoples, notable for their very short stature.
    The Bantu immigration drove many Pygmy tribes into the darkest jungle, while other Pygmies were reduced to cohabitation in a subservient status
  2. (Greek mythology) A member of a race of dwarfs.
    Homer and Herodote mentioned pygmies in India (which would fit the Andamanese Negritoes) or Ethiopia (then meaning all of Subsaharan Africa).
  3. (figuratively, derogatory, offensive) Any dwarfish person or thing.
    Everyone looked like pygmies whenever giant Joe joined his classmates.
  4. (figuratively, derogatory, offensive) An insignificant person, at least in some respect.
    Despite his towering stature, the minister proved a political pygmy.

Synonyms

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Derived terms
Derived terms

Translations
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Adjective

pygmy (comparative more pygmy, superlative most pygmy)

  1. Relating or belonging to the Pygmy people
  2. Like a pygmy; unusually short or small for its kind
    Soil exhaustion ultimately produces a pygmy crop at best

Synonyms

See also
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