PYGMY


Meaning of PYGMY in English

transcription, транскрипция: [ noun ]

also pig·my ˈpig-mē

( plural pygmies also pigmies )

Etymology: Middle English pigmei, from Latin pygmaeus of a pygmy, dwarfish, from Greek pygmaios, from pygmē fist, measure of length — more at pungent

Date: 14th century

1. often capitalized : any of a race of dwarfs described by ancient Greek authors

2. capitalized : any of a small people of equatorial Africa ranging under five feet (1.5 meters) in height

3.

a.

(1) : an unusually small person

(2) : an insignificant or unimpressive person

an intellectual pygmy

b. : something very small of its kind

• pygmy adjective

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary.      Энциклопедический словарь английского языка Merriam Webster.